Utility crews continue to make progress restoring power at the hurricane-ravaged U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
It was the first time that power crews from Wisconsin Public Service and WE Energies went outside the continental United States to help restore power. Several Northwoods personnel joined the effort.
WPS spokesperson Matt Cullen says they have moved from the area they were originally stationed...
"WPS and WE Energies crews continue to make steady progress in areas in Puerto Rico that have been impacted by hurricane Maria. In the past week and half those crews have moved and are assisting with restoration efforts in the Bayamon region of Puerto Rico which is very close to San Juan. That's where they first started..."
Cullen says the damage remains widespread...
"....they're still encountering broken utility poles, and downed wires, in addition to the challenges they already face which include narrow work areas and streets along with some utility poles that were inaccessible from the road, so they had to use some of their equipment and move it through homes to reach those backyard facilities...."
Cullen says the residents have been cheering as the crews arrive. Cullen says one of the places with restored power was a dairy farm where the owners studied agriculture at UW-Madison.
