Tillamook, OR – August 2, 2018 – Crews from Tillamook PUD left early this morning on a mutual aid relief assignment in the Redding, California area. The two crews will be assisting Pacific Gas & Electric with restoration efforts as they work to repair electrical facilities damaged by wildfires in the area. Fires have destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of land, over 1,000 residences and well over 1,000 poles. A reported 40,000 Shasta County residents have been forced to evacuate the area as well.
Tillamook PUD is one of over 40 utilities throughout the Western United States and Canada that have a Mutual Aid Agreement through the Western Regional Mutual Aid Group (WRMAG). Utilities that are a part of the WRMAG provide disaster relief and mutual aid assistance to other utilities in a time of crisis. Our crews at Tillamook PUD are well-trained, highly skilled individuals that frequently prepare for a multitude of situations, including natural disasters. The timeframe in which crews will be gone is unknown at this time. The ever-changing condition of the area provides a challenge in determining the workload and level of assistance needed. If needed in our area, they can be recalled at any time. Updates on crew activities will be posted on the Tillamook PUD Facebook page and Twitter feed. We would like to thank the community for their well wishes and extreme support of our crews. We are proud of those assisting during this time of great need and pleased to be a part of the WRMAG.
