Heat challenges crews restoring power after Iowa storms
Storms rolling through central Iowa knocked out power for thousands of Iowans late Sunday night and early Monday morning.
MidAmerican Energy says that at the peak of the outages, almost 33,000 of its customers were without power.
Crews worked diligently all day Monday to restore electricity, deploying more than 200 workers to tackle the issue across affected areas, including a team stationed at 30 SW Oralabor Road in Ankeny.
Despite facing challenging conditions, the workers pushed forward to ensure residents' power would return as quickly as possible.
The heat presented an extra challenge for the crews, who worked under the blazing sun while wearing mandatory safety gear.
Their equipment included boots, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and protective rubber gloves that extended from their shoulders to their fingertips.
This safety gear, while essential for working around electricity, left workers drenched in sweat as they carried out their tasks.
“We emphasize safety first when working around electricity, and that requires the use of this equipment,” said Tina Hoffman, spokesperson for MidAmerican Energy.
Hoffman noted the company encouraged workers to take breaks and utilize cooling measures whenever possible.
These included stepping into air-conditioned trucks, taking water breaks and replenishing electrolytes.
She highlighted the importance of workers watching out for one another while in the field.
Nearby, on Oralabor, Ankeny city workers were fixing a malfunctioning stoplight under the same scorching conditions.
Both groups remained focused on staying hydrated to combat the heat as they worked through their assignments.
Despite the challenges, MidAmerican Energy workers and city crews were committed to restoring power and normalcy for residents, ensuring the community could regain access to vital air conditioning during the heat wave.
“Our workers understand the importance and impact of their roles,” Hoffman added. “Their dedication is unwavering because they know what our customers are experiencing.”
MidAmerican Energy announced that power was expected to be fully restored to all affected customers by midnight, a relief for many who had been without electricity to combat the high temperatures.
The company also said it is preparing for more storms coming tonight. It says it will be fully staffed overnight and line crews are prepared for immediate response. MidAmerican is also bringing in crews from Kansas City, St. Louis, Wisconsin and Indiana to help with restoration efforts.