Irby Restoring Power After Hurricane Sally

Sep 24, 2020

Hurricane Sally, a category 2 hurricane, came ashore near Gulf Shores, Alabama the morning of September 16, 2020 – the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Ivan. The storm brought to shore eight barges and caused billions in damage to the Pensacola, FL and Mobile, AL areas, including breaking off a section of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. Over 2,000 power lines were destroyed, and it is expected that restoration could take several weeks.

More than half a million people were left without power, but Irby crews were ready in the area as the storm arrived, prepared to begin repairs as soon as Sally moved inland. Since then, over 160 Irby linemen have been working 16-hour days as part of a group of 1,500 contractors hired to expedite power restoration. With Irby’s help performing distribution, transmission, and substation services throughout the area, more people are regaining power every day.

With destroyed infrastructure and difficult conditions, Irby crews continue to keep safety their highest priority.­ Sally is the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the US this year, the most by this point in the hurricane season since 2004. Irby crews will remain at the ready until the end of this record-breaking season in November.