As rebuilding begins along the east coast, member of the Escambia River Electric Cooperative are joining in the efforts by providing housing for those working to restore power in the damaged areas.

Assistance has been sent by EREC to the city of New Bern in North Carolina.

EREC General Manger and CEO Clay Campbell said one of the biggest challenges facing electric utilities during power restoration after disaster is lodging. EREC is making an effort to help minimize the challenge to those crews.

“It is difficult at best to find housing for hundreds, or even thousands, of workers in an area whose infrastructure has been devastated,” Campbell said. “EREC acquired trailers and renovated them into bunk housing for use by our cooperative after a storm. However, these trailers are available for use by other cooperatives when need.”

Each of the five trailers owned by EREC will house up to 33 people. A shower trailer, with 10 showers and sinks, has also been made available to workers in North Carolina, Campbell said. Each of the bunks has overhead lighting as well as electrical outlets for cell phone charging. The bottom row of bunks is also equipped with floor lighting as well.

The city of New Bern was without any power throughout the area following Hurricane Irene, Campbell said.

EREC is an electric provider for 10,000 members in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.