A team of 47 electric utility workers from Wisconsin has returned home after aiding in the recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton in Florida.
Originally slated to assist in Kissimmee, the team was redirected to Lakeland, where the storm’s damage was more severe.
The workers, representing the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin MEUW, helped restore power to approximately 86,000 customers in the Lakeland area, working alongside crews from eight other states and Lakeland Electric employees.
Mike Czuprynko, MEUW’s Director of Safety Services and Operations, praised the workers’ dedication, highlighting the personal sacrifices they made in leaving their families to assist Floridians.
He noted the dangerous and skilled nature of the work, which included operating in challenging conditions like flooded areas and navigating storm debris.
Czuprynko also acknowledged the Wisconsin crews who remained at home, ensuring that utility services in the Badger State continued uninterrupted.
The Wisconsin workers completed their mission in about a week, contributing significantly to reducing the number of power outages, with fewer than 100 customers left without power as of Tuesday.