SDG&E Sends Crews, Equipment to Storm-Battered East Coast

San Diego Gas & Electric began sending equipment and repair crews today to storm-damaged areas along the East Coast to help restore electrical service.

The 1,000-mile-wide storm–Hurricane Sandy came ashore near Atlantic City, N.J., with winds of about 80 mph and is now a cyclone as it moves through upstate New York–knocked out power to millions of people.

More than 20 pieces of equipment–mechanized line trucks, aerial bucket trucks, light-duty bucket trucks, supervisor trucks and field mechanic trucks–were loaded on flatbed carriers for the cross-country trip. More than 40 workers will follow by air on Friday, according to the utility.

"It sounds like they're in pretty bad shape from what we can tell, so we're going to give it our best and try to get people back on," electrical supervisor Ron Simpson told 10News. "It's what we signed up for as linemen. It's what we do, we restore the power."

The utility said operations in San Diego County and southern Orange County would not be hampered by the loan of equipment.

–City News Service

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