I want to shout-out to capitalism.
While driving to my destination to graft, in one fifteen mile of state-highway I saw 9 (nine) utility trucks with cherry-pickers in convoys of two and three heading south. I saw one flat-bed with racks with approximately 20 utility poles going south.
The men in those trucks were not leaving their homes out of a sense of altruism. They are driving to the aid of hard-hit areas because "the market" determined what price would convince men to do so. And then, "the market" made that offer.
If you are watching a freezer full of meat starting to thaw, or if you have a family member who is starting to choke because the AC isn't running and the air is filling with allergens. Then you don't begrudge those men a penny of what they are paid.
If your basement is flooding because your sump-pump has no power or if the local gas station cannot dispense gas because there is no power to run the pumps you are overjoyed to see those guys show up.
Oddly, the only people who resent linemen are unattractive people who write poetry nobody will ever read and create art that nobody will ever look at. They are envious of people who can actually perform work that is in such high demand that they would willingly pay it out of their own pocket.
---End of pep talk---
When the linemen and Emergency Services stop rolling out to assist in times of trouble S has indeed hit the fan.
ReplyDeleteLinemen leave their families to go out into nasty weather and troubles while most folks just complain about the power being out.
They proceed on the assumption that the rest of emergency services will keep their families safe while they are often across the state or indeed in a different hard-hit state working for weeks.
Another underappreciated group is the guys running the power plants 24/7/365. Holidays mean nothing as everyone still wants that electricity.
ReplyDeleteAdd in water and especially waste treatment plant operators. Being without power for a few days is survivable. Having the sewers back up and overflow in a city is an epidemic waiting to start.
DeletePLus the people working to get the Natural gas, oil or coal to that power plant.
DeleteIt’s been my experience the “softer” the degree, the higher distain for the tradesman. I went to grad school with a lot of GM managers. The further from the line, the more condescending. At least the production managers knew there wouldnt be production without the hourly guys
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, these guys are LINEMEN. They're NOT miracle workers! If you don't relish the thought of thawing freezers and allergy-choked family members, GET A GENERATOR. GET SOME EXTRA GAS! BE READY!!!
ReplyDelete