UD LIFE - Cedar Rapids Student Leads Recovery Efforts in Florida
Sep 25, 2017
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Donald Finn, a University of Dubuque LIFE – Cedar Rapids student, recently traveled to Florida to help lead recovery efforts after Hurricane Irma.
Finn, senior manager of customer operations at Alliant Energy, arrived in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 13, with around 200 Alliant Energy personnel from Iowa and Wisconsin who volunteered to help restore power to those affected by Hurricane Irma in the Miami and Naples area. They were in the area for about a week.
“The conditions were very hot and humid, and we stressed to the Midwest folks to drink more water than they are used to doing,” Finn said. “We also stressed that our folks watch for venomous snakes and spiders and alligators that have been pushed out of their normal environments.”
Florida utilities requested help through a national mutual assistance program among utilities.
Finn, who led the effort in Florida among the Alliant Energy group, said it was a humbling experience.
“The residents of southern Florida were very gracious and welcoming,” Finn said. “We received a lot of thank-yous from the folks down here.”
