When it comes to storm restoration, work needs to move fast, and having the right equipment can make all the difference. But when that equipment needs to cross an ocean, it complicates things.

While Southern California Edison crews were notified, mobilized and on Hawaii Island in a matter of days, their trucks were stuck on the mainland.

“We thought about every option — flying them in somehow or even shipping them across the Pacific Ocean,” said Travis Parks, an SCE principal manager and the mutual assistance storm chief. “But both options were costly or took too long.”

Not long after SCE agreed to support Hawaiian Electric in repairing its damaged equipment, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green recognized the emergency and authorized the use of the state's National Guard and two C-17 aircraft. Within days, the planes were loading equipment at March Air Reserve Base and transporting it directly to Hilo International Airport.

Behind the scenes, SCE’s Transportation Services Department (TSD) had already kicked things into gear, prepping the trucks for their flight.

“I got the call Wednesday, was told, ‘Load up,’ and I said, ‘Let’s go help Hawaii,’” said Jon Walkiewicz, lead foreman out of SCE’s Santa Clarita garage. “Within about 12 hours, we had a list of vehicles, trucks prepped and everything ready for the Air Force to load up.”

While the team made the logistics look easy, the work behind the scenes wasn't so simple. The Air Force has strict protocol on what can and cannot fly onboard its planes.

“We had to strip them down,” Walkiewicz said. “We had a great crew in our Menifee garage that helped remove the fuel and any chemicals from the vehicles. They don't allow really any flammable materials, like gasoline, on board.”

To prep for the vehicles’ arrival, Walkiewicz and two other TSD team members — Jim Kennedy and Fabian Armendariz — flew out ahead of them. The team back in Menifee stayed to help the Air Force get the equipment loaded.

The plane would need to make two trips to deliver the supplies needed. The first one: two bucket trucks and a companion vehicle with a wire dolly. The second would include two troubleman trucks and the contents of SCE’s mutual assistance trailer.

As the first shipment headed to the airport, Walkiewicz and the team met up with the Hawaii National Guard members to unload it.

Since they had to drain the fuel to fly, their first stop was to get gas. From there, it was straight to the laydown yard for some maintenance checks and then to the field.

“The lineworkers were really excited to get their equipment — the last couple of days they have been working out of U-Haul trucks, Jeeps and whatever else they can make work,” Walkiewicz said. “They have been incredibly resourceful, but this equipment is going to make a huge difference in the amount of work they can get done.”

Hawaiian Electric had also loaned the crews a couple of its spare trucks, allowing them to repair downed wire and turn the power back on for various sections of customers on the Big Island. And now, with their own trucks, SCE crews expect to be even more efficient.

“The work the mechanics do often goes unnoticed, but without their coordination and how quickly they move, none of this would have been possible,” said Parks. “They not only got the vehicles here, but they’ll also be here every day making sure they’re safe to use.”

For more information, visit sce.com/safety.

Communications around safety are funded by ratepayers.