We Energies crews return to Milwaukee after helping repair damage from Hurricane Milton

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – We Energies crews are back in Milwaukee after spending one week in Florida helping people impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Crews left for Florida on Oct. 9. Later that night, Hurricane Milton landed in Tampa.

We Energies staff worked 16 hours a day to help restore power to tens of thousands of people affected by Milton. Staff say hundreds of electrical poles and wires needed to be replaced and restrung.

Operations Manager Nate Schkeryantz says intense flooding and debris made it difficult to get from one location to the next. He says local crews worked alongside We Energies staff to get power back to people affected.

“It’s very encouraging to see everyone want to go down there because, again, they’re all in the same situation where they left their home, traveled down to help others out,” said Schkeryantz. “The customers, that, seeing them go back on power, the local utility was very appreciative of us being down there and help them out. So that was rewarding, but we were ready to come home and see our families.”

Schkeryantz says the first thing he did when he returned home was hug his wife and kids.