2018

Employees work behind the scenes at Hurricane Michael staging site

Mississippi Power’s Chris Odom is the assistant site manager at the Mosley High School staging site in Lynn Haven, Fla.

Rose Ann Pegoda oversees lodging at the Mosley High School staging site during Hurricane Michael restoration efforts.

Approximately 40,000 meals have been served to workers at the Mosley High School staging site.

Mississippi Power Coastal Generation employees collected and delivered supplies to Gulf Power employees at Plant Smith.

For nearly two weeks, eight staging sites around the Panama City, Fla., area have been housing thousands of workers brought in to restore electric service to the area after catastrophic Hurricane Michael made landfall on Oct. 10.

Mississippi Power’s Chris Odom and Rose Ann Pegoda have been working behind the scenes as part of a nine-person team that manages the staging area at Mosley High School in Lynn Haven. Odom is the assistant site manager and Pegoda oversees lodging.

This staging site provides housing, meals, ice, fuel, busing, parking, restoration communications, showers and laundry service to crews from 30-plus companies. It is designed for 750 people but about 850 sleep onsite daily.

They have helped serve almost 40,000 meals since the site opened the day after the storm struck.

“Basically, we chase down every need of anyone here,” said Pegoda, Marketing Services’ customer value and research team leader. “Whatever we have, we give to those working restoration if they need it. Anything and everything that comes up, we must handle.”

Things like mechanical assistance, driving directions and medical needs. Need a safety vest, Chapstick or sunscreen? They have it. Air conditioner not working? They will get it running again. If a hole grows in a walkway, they’ll buy and install river rocks to fill it.

“It’s been a challenge,” said Odom, who serves as Compliance and Concerns coordinator at home and is assistant site manager on this storm duty. “But I’m thankful I can help and be a part of such an impactful restoration.”

Meanwhile back home, employees are contributing generously to the relief efforts.

Employees at Plant Daniel, Plant Watson and the Chevron Cogen Plant quickly organized a supply drive.

In just three days, they loaded a big trailer with supplies like diapers, bug spray, snacks, tarps, charcoal, batteries and many other items.

The supplies were delivered to Gulf Power’s Plant Smith in Panama City.

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for more than 187,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. With nearly 160 megawatts of approved solar energy capacity, Mississippi Power is the largest partner in providing renewable energy in the state of Mississippi. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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10/23/2018 11:54AM

Employees work behind the scenes at Hurricane Michael staging site

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