Fayetteville Public Utilities (FPU) has a longstanding history of answering the call when there is a need. From restoring local utilities to responding when disaster strikes miles away from home, FPU’s heroic utility workers readily volunteer to face challenging situations to ensure others have the electric, water, wastewater, natural gas and telecom services they need and enjoy. In the midst of a storm, most people seek shelter and wait it out, but for utility workers, a storm can mean leaving their families and braving the elements to restore services. FPU employees are often the first to respond during natural disasters and emergency situations. They work long hours in dangerous conditions and challenging circumstances to restore utilities and bring relief to those impacted. Not only are FPU employees among the first to respond at home, but they also provide mutual aid assistance to other communities and states. Through the years, FPU crews have voluntarily responded over 25 times to assist with restoration efforts when other utility providers have been impacted by devastating storms. “When disaster strikes, our crews have a reputation of answering the call,” says FPU CEO/General Manager Britt Dye. “They gladly volunteer to help their friends and neighbors as well as fellow utility providers in their times of need. Whether that means working on a stormy night to restore power and internet services, braving extreme temperatures to repair a water leak or reporting after hours to replace a natural gas service line, FPU crews realize the importance of paying it forward and will put their own needs aside to lend a helping hand by doing what they do best.”
“No weather-related event or emergency situation is ever the same,” adds Dye. “Utility work is dangerous enough when the environment is favorable but working in uncontrolled conditions offers new challenges and hazards. Whether assisting communities in need or serving our friends and neighbors in Fayetteville and Lincoln County, safety is always our top priority. At the end of the day, we want to ensure our crews go home to their loved ones the same way they showed up for work.” A hero is characterized by courage, nobility and outstanding achievements, and FPU’s electric, water, wastewater, natural gas and telecom crews are heroes in every sense of the word. From outages caused by storms or traffic accidents to a homeowner digging into buried utilities, FPU crews report to work every day unsure of what they will face but always prepared no matter the circumstances to provide the services that keep lights on, homes comfortable, water flowing and people connected.