Thousands of New Yorkers got an unexpected present from people in the Lower Mainland this Christmas – some help getting the power back on.
Rokstad Power Corporation, based out of Coquitlam, sent 65 workers to upstate New York on December 20 to help restore power after the devastating ice storm.
In Lake Placid, Watertown, and many other towns, crews worked tirelessly to help turn on the lights, and were able to finish in time to return home for Christmas evening.
Rokstad got the call to help because of a contract they signed with the state after Hurricane Sandy.
“We have trucks out there, and they pay us to be on standby with our equipment,” said Bernie Rokstad, the owner of the power-line company. “We’re proud they selected a Western Canada company, and it talks to the performance of our people.”
“We’ve been doing storm restoration for a long time. It’s what our people do, and we’re good at it.”
Over 370,000 across the northeast U.S. were left in the dark after ice storms buffeted the entire region, including much of Ontario, last weekend.
While their members were willing to leave their families for the holidays to help, getting back home for Christmas night was another challenge.
“I got the call Christmas Eve that we would have to get them back the next day,” said Brody Rokstad, a vice-president at Rokstad.
“But once others heard our story, people really stepped up to the plate,” he added. “Kelowna-based Flair Airlines agreed to pick them up. It’s good to see the Spirit of Christmas is alive and well.”
The job done, the company is happy they were able to help others in need.
“I’m sure they would have been happier being with their families, but that’s the kind of people linemen are,” said the elder Rokstad.
“They take great pride in helping others.”
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