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WFEC works with local law enforcement, emergency management

WFEC recently met with local law enforcement and emergency management officials to share ideas about how their agencies and the Co-op can mutually benefit through cooperation. Communication with the public is one area in which they plan to help each other. Shown, from left, are Rodney Andreason, Jackson County EM; J. B.


When local emergency management and law enforcement personnel go to work, they never know what sort of crisis might await them. But when a potential public danger arises in West Florida Electric Cooperative’s service area, they know they can depend on WFEC to help them handle the situation whenever possible.

WFEC works with the sheriffs and emergency management officials in its service area of Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington Counties under a variety of circumstances. For instance, when a WFEC customer reports a fire, firefighters must contact the Co-op to disconnect the electric service to the business or dwelling. Or, if a vehicle strikes one of WFEC’s poles, Co-op crews may have to de-energize the surrounding lines and possibly even move a pole to allow rescue workers safe access to the accident scene.

Besides coordinating their efforts on-site during an emergency, WFEC and law enforcement and emergency management can assist each other with public communication. For example, if public officials need to notify residents in a particular area of a potential hazard, WFEC can help. By using its automated outage response system as a sort of "reverse 9-1-1," WFEC can issue emergency advisories within a specific portion of its service area. With 16 outbound phone lines, the system can automatically telephone all customers in a designated area within a short time and can even be programmed to leave a message on an answering machine. WFEC also can provide an e-mail database for emergency purposes. By the same token, law enforcement and emergency management can serve as an emergency-only, last-resort contact for WFEC customers should the Co-op lose telephone service during power outages.

WFEC offers stand-by power generators to ensure law enforcement and emergency management can rely on their critical communication and computer equipment during a crisis. Having a generator with fully-automatic switching gear allows emergency workers to devote their attention to the situation at hand. City and county law enforcement and fire departments may apply for a Florida Emergency Management competitive grant to cover their generator purchase.

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