As Hurricane Milton churns toward Florida, bringing with it the threat of fierce winds and power outages, help is already on the way.

Over the weekend, Florida Electric Cooperative Association reached out to MECA and other cooperatives across the country asking for help in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. More than 15 states answered the call, with some coming as far away as Utah and North Dakota. Over 30 Michigan co-op lineworkers have packed up their gear and headed south, ready to restore power and hope. See recent news coverage HERE.

This is a reminder of how communities, bound by the spirit of cooperation, come together in times of crisis. Lineworkers from across our state and the country are on their way, staying up to two weeks in Florida, to ensure that when the storm clears, the lights come back on—and neighbors won’t be left in the dark.

Mutual Aid for SECO Energy:

Michigan Cooperative Lineworkers
Cherryland Electric Cooperative Kyle Griffin, Nick Newell, Brad Norton, and Dustin Ockert
Thumb Electric Cooperative Mike Cleland, Rob Eskau, Mike Kozlowski, and Daniel Land

Mutual Aid for Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative:

Michigan Cooperative Lineworkers
Great Lakes Energy Cooperative William Fowler, Tyler Jones, Jeremiah Ritchie, and Chad Spincich
HomeWorks Tri-County Cooperative Jeff Campbell, Justin Chambers, Brian Moore, Chris Vallier, and Derrick Weber
Midwest Electric & Communications Cooperative Garrett Adams, Chris Clark, Mark Vantine, and Jordan Wilson
Presque Isle Electric & Gas Tom Hoffmeyer, Don LaLonde, Eric Leach, and Scott LeCureux
Wolverine Power Cooperative Ben Balcom, Troy Krajniak, Christopher Nadorozny, and Mason Powell

Mutual Aid: A Core Principle of Cooperation

The collaboration between Michigan and Florida utilities highlights the power of mutual aid. The principle is simple: when one area is in crisis, neighboring cooperatives step in to help restore services and get power back up as quickly as possible. Michigan’s lineworkers, like those from many other states, are ready to take on the challenge, knowing that they are not just restoring power lines but helping to rebuild communities.

“Mutual aid is a core value of electric cooperatives and an essential part of emergency planning,” said MECA Safety Director Joe McElroy. “When the call came in for support, Michigan lineworkers were quick to step up and help.”

The cooperative model isn’t just about sharing resources—it’s about fostering a sense of shared purpose. Michigan lineworkers traveling to Florida will join forces with local crews to ensure that once Hurricane Milton passes, the rebuilding process can begin immediately.

A Timely Reminder During National Cooperative Month

October is National Cooperative Month, a time to recognize the impact of cooperatives in various industries, from utilities to agriculture. This national response to Hurricane Milton is a reminder of how cooperatives operate in critical moments. Whether it is ensuring electricity is restored after a disaster or providing reliable services year-round, cooperatives are built on a foundation of people helping people.

“It’s about neighbors helping neighbors,” said McElroy. “Even when those neighbors are fellow co-ops located hundreds of miles away.”

Additionally, the lineworkers could never have shown up without assistance with logistics and quick action taken by the staffs of all the mutual aid cooperatives, including: Tiffany Larson, Melissa Van Schoten (PIEG), Shari Culver, Jason Tanner (GLE), Ryan Smith (Homeworks), Brad Essemacher, Brandon LeGault (TEC), Jeff Puffer, Frank Siepker (Cherryland), Chad Ritchie (MEC), Chris Rommel, Steve Robbins (Wolverine) and Katie Deller (MECA).