Ohioans lend many hands to Hurricane Laura relief efforts

Ohioans are on their way to the Gulf Coast to help in the wake of Hurricane Laura, which struck Texas and Louisiana this week.

Around 400 employees of AEP Ohio, some of whom spent Thursday night in Memphis, will be restoring power and trimming trees–all while braving 100-degree temperatures over roughly the next two weeks.

The first step in hurricane restoration: getting there! Our crews stayed overnight in Memphis and are on the road to Shreveport. They've battled wind and rain — with some vehicles pulling trailers and heavy equipment — but they're determined to get to @SWEPCoNews to help. pic.twitter.com/VllVMKhhyY
— AEP Ohio (@AEPOhio) August 28, 2020

The AEP crew includes 160 regular employees, plus an additional 100 contractors, and 140 tree trimmers.

Ohio Task Force One is also traveling to the affected area along with other first responders specializing in search, rescue, medical aid, hazardous waste handling, and logistics. That group numbers 84 total workers.

Finally, the Red Cross of Central Ohio has more than 20 volunteers participating in relief efforts.

Hurricane Laura was a category 4 storm when it hit the coast, causing catastrophic damage.

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