ORLANDO, Fla. – Another group of Central Florida utility workers is headed to Puerto Rico. The crew of 14 Orlando Utility Commission linemen will provide relief for the island that is still in dire need of electricity.
The U.S territory is still 75 percent without power; last week it was 83 percent in the dark. Crews from across Florida have delivered equipment on ships to help with the more than 50,000 poles that will need to be replaced and 6,500 miles of cable that will have to be restrung.
OUC first class lineman Luis Burgos has been concerned about his parents and siblings who survived Hurricane Maria but still struggle to find water and food. He said he also lost two homes he owns on the island in the storm.
“It's just incredible, I never imagined that something like that could happen to Puerto Rico,” Burgos said.
The crew will work on the island for a month straight, seven days a week, for 16 hours a day. Burgos hopes to stay in Puerto Rico for a longer period to continue rebuilding efforts.