NPPD Sends Relief to West Virginia to Help With Sandy Aftermath

By: Bill Steckis Email

Updated: Thu 9:21 AM, Nov 01, 2012

"I've been doing this for 28 years. Some of the guys longer than that. That's what we do, keep the power on. No matter if it's Nebraska, West Virginia, where ever we get called up, we like to go." - Dennis Wademan, NPPD Technician.

As Superstorm Sandy leaves the land in the heart of the Atlantic seaboard devastated, NPPD technicians from the heartland board trucks bound for relief.

NPPD Technician, Nathan Abels said, "It will be interesting to see what it's like and help somebody else out."

It's sunny in Percival, Iowa where the 16 technicians met to start the caravan east, but where they are going in West Virginia, 26 inches of snow await them.

"I've been doing this for 28 years. Some of the guys longer than that. That's what we do, keep the power on," said Dennis Wademan, NPPD Technician. "No matter if it's Nebraska, West Virginia, where ever we get called up, we like to go."

"They told us to pack for two weeks at least. They have come to our help, nice to help somebody else out," said Abels as he filled his NPPD truck with gasoline.

They are expected to reach West Virginia on Thursday. Sandy left 150,000 homes, that are Appalachian Power Company customers without power.