In February, Gov. Henry McMaster met with lineworkers from South Carolina’s electric cooperatives during Co-Op Day at the Statehouse. Gov. McMaster also honored the state’s lineworkers for their work and dedication after Hurricane Helene during his State of the State address.
Although Little River Electric celebrates our linemen every day, April 18 is officially National Lineworker Day. This is a special time to recognize the bravery and efforts of lineworkers across the country. It also recognizes the traditions of the trade and the role of lineworkers as first responders during natural disasters.
By nature, serving as a lineworker requires a deep dedication to the community. Every day, Little River Electric crews travel across our service territory building, maintaining and repairing parts of our local system. Their extraordinary skills ensure our homes remain connected to the grid, businesses stay operational, and emergency services remain accessible—a lifeline that connect us all.
It’s a fact that linework remains one of the deadliest jobs in America. Lineworkers are exposed to all types of hazards, including:
- Risk of electrocution.
- Falling while working at significant height.
- Being struck by dropped objects.
- Exposure to weather conditions such as wind, heat, lightning, rain, snow, sleet and hail.
- Working in areas with high roadway traffic.
The effort, risk and care that goes into maintaining our power infrastructure—overhead and underground lines, substations and more—often goes unnoticed until the power goes out.
After Hurricane Helene, we all have a greater appreciation for having power after the lights were out for days or, in some cases, weeks. Ashley Rudd of Iva remembers.
“When we saw those linemen pull down our road to fix our power,” Rudd says “it was an overwhelming feeling of relief. We ran snacks and drinks up to them and to see the happiness on their faces, I’ll never forget. It’s the same feeling I had the moment our power was restored. We felt blessed, thankful, but also sad, knowing they still had so much work to be done”.
Laura Smith, a member from Anderson also recalls her feelings.
“After a week without power, the sight of coming home to a front porch light on in the middle of the day gave me with a sense of relief and jubilation,” says Smith. “After spending nights with several family members and in hotels, I was past ready to sleep in my own bed and use my refrigerator. I can’t thank the men and women of Little River enough for working tirelessly to restore power to the Starr, Iva and Anderson area.”
This month, as we celebrate the remarkable men and women who ensure reliable power, let’s recognize their unwav- ering dedication to the local communities they serve. Little River Electric is beyond grateful for our lineworkers and others that answer the call every day.
