Mississippi Power employees gratefully returning the help

Many Mississippi Power employees know first-hand that recovery after a devastating weather event can take time and a lot of resources.

After their homes were devastated in Hurricane Katrina, Robert Wink and Rick Maddox, both information technology employees, felt like they had been adopted by their counterparts at sister company Gulf Power based on the outpouring of kindness and assistance. It was only fitting they return the favor when a fellow co-worker’s Pensacola home was flooded at the end of April.

Described “much like a hurricane without the wind,” the floods on April 29 and 30 affected hundreds of homes in Northwest Florida, including more than 40 Gulf Power employees and their families.

Wink and Maddox were part of a group of Mississippi Power IT employees who went to help salvage furniture and remove flooring so that the home could begin drying out.

“Even though it’s almost 10 years later, we still feel very indebted to (Gulf Power and Family Services) for the help we received after Katrina and were very happy to help them out,” Wink said. “Just as we had after Katrina, there were other family members and church groups who also provided assistance, but they also need our continued support.”

Mississippi Power’s Community Connection employee volunteer group recently donated $6,200 to help the Gulf Power employees.