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TECO, Duke linemen to help restore power in Puerto Rico

 
Twenty-five TECO linemen left TIA on Wednesday to help restore power in Puerto Rico. (Tampa International Airport)
Twenty-five TECO linemen left TIA on Wednesday to help restore power in Puerto Rico. (Tampa International Airport)
Published Jan. 17, 2018

TAMPA — As more than 1.5 million people in Puerto Rico remain powerless, local linemen are stepping up and flying out to the island to help restore electricity.

On Wednesday morning, 25 linemen boarded a flight from Tampa International Airport to Puerto Rico. That's after 100 linemen from Duke Energy traveled there on Sunday.

About 40 percent of the U.S. territory is still without power.

"We're going to help people who can't help themselves," TECO lineman Michael Davis told reports at the airport. "This is what we do."

This morning we said farewell to 25 @TECOEnergy linemen, heading via @Delta to Puerto Rico to help restore power. Good luck, guys! pic.twitter.com/1yfrkOylog

The TECO crew is expected to be working in Puerto Rico for six weeks.