Updated October 12, 2018

An Athens Utilities crew left yesterday heading to Havana, Florida, to help with recovery efforts after Hurricane Michael.

“There are a lot of utility poles down, and our crew will help them restore their infrastructure,” Electric Department Manager Blair Davis said in a release.

Havana is 14 miles north of Tallahassee and news reports indicate there has been at least one hurricane-related fatality in that county.

“When Athens and Limestone County were hit by deadly tornadoes in 2011 and 2014, utility crews and other agencies from Alabama and elsewhere worked with us to restore power and recover, and I am grateful we can pay it forward by helping communities like Havana,” said Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks, in the release.

A crew from Columbia Power Works will also join other utilities across the Southeast in restoring power to some of the hardest-hit regions including Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

The Columbia Power Works response team will incorporate three fleet vehicles, including a bucket truck, digger derrick and service vehicle, along with equipment needed for utility restoration.