SCE&G, SCEMD Prepare for Winter Weather

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — One hundred and forty contractors are headed to South Carolina in preparation for a storm that will have crews working twenty-four hours, until it’s over. “It’s the frozen rain and the icing that causes us the difficulty on our system,” says Keller Kissam, President of Retail Operations for SCE&G. Kissam briefed the media Monday on the utility company’s effort to combat winter weather making it’s way to the area. “We’re dedicated to following this forecast to see exactly where our customers will be impacted,” says Kissam Sunday night officials called back to the state, one hundred and forty workers who were helping in northern states like, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. “You never would let your native crews go somewhere else if you thought weather was going to impact you,” says Kissam Meanwhile, at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, preparations are underway. “How quick the storm is going to approach, how much we’re going to get and how long it’s going to say,” says Derrec Becker, SCEMD spokesperson While we just dealt with winter weather two weeks ago, this storm is different. “The ice is what gives us the most concern, because that has the most potential to do damage in South Carolina,” says Becker For that reason, it’s even more important to be prepared. “Hopefully, the steps you took during the winter storm two weeks ago, you can still apply them now. If you bought extra supplies, non-perishable food, they’ll still last you through this one. So right now it’s watch the weather, load up on whatever you happen to be low on and stay tuned,” says Becker SCE&G also has a crew of assessors that will be traveling throughout the area to check power lines. During the last storm, Columbia sent crews to Charleston to help, this time it’s the other way around. The first band of contractors are expected to arrive in the state Monday night.