In Hurricane Irma's wake, the largest power restoration force in U.S. history mobilized to repair and rebuild the southeast in September, with line crews coming from as far away as Seattle, California and even parts of Canada to pitch in. With nearly 8 million out of power, approximately 60,000 line workers, tree-trimmers and support staff from 250 utilities converged on Florida, led by IBEW members, who made up an enormous share of the restoration army.

"The men and women of the IBEW stepped up big time after Hurricane Irma, and I can't thank them enough for doing our Brotherhood proud," said International President Lonnie R. Stephenson. "When the lights go out and people are in need, we show up and get the job done. It's no different from how our members approach every day on the job — with safety, professionalism and quality that sets us apart."

The overwhelming IBEW response — primarily by lineworkers who volunteered for the difficult restoration assignment — was noticed by officials, including U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, who called Stephenson from Air Force One on his return from surveying damage in Florida.

"I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you," Perry said. "Please pass on to your membership how much I appreciate all the work they're doing."

The actual work of restoration took longer than expected thanks to the extraordinary tree damage and debris and the immense scale of Irma's destruction, which hit Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas.

"This storm affected the whole southeast," said Fifth District International Vice President Joseph S. Davis, whose territory includes Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. "Irma was especially rough on Florida because of its path and strength, and unlike previous storms, there's no part of the state that was unaffected."

Preparations for Irma began early as forecasts hinted that its strength and path could produce one of the deadliest and most destructive storms in history. After the call for help went out, crews from all over the U.S. and Canada began arriving in Florida days before the hurricane's Sept. 10 landfall, assigned to pre-staging areas and housed in Category 5-rated hotels.

Among those was Colby Merriman, a line clearance technician from Joplin, Mo., Local 95. Merriman, who works for Shade Tree Service Co., was among a group of 10 IBEW members who brought five trucks from Joplin; he says the company brought many more technicians from other locations and IBEW locals as far away as Wisconsin.

As soon as the winds decreased, they headed for Hollywood in the heavily populated strip between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Like everyone else dispatched into the path of the storm, the Shade Tree crew was working 16-hour days, seven days-a-week, to restore power. Much of it was in backyards, which Merriman says made the work slow going. But he wouldn't be anywhere else. "This is our job," said the 34-year-old, who worked on hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, Sandy and Matthew over the years. "It's our pleasure to be down here helping people, no matter how hard the work is."

Jerry Camacho, a business representative from Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245, flew into Florida before the storm with a crew of 125 from Pacific Gas & Electric. The lineworkers and staff rode out Irma in a specially-designed hotel, pressurized to help prevent the windows from breaking. By the next morning, his team was out, helping FPL get substations back up and running and then working main lines from there.

"We're just happy to be here and to be able to help," Camacho said. "The people of Florida would do the same for us, and we'll be here until they don't need us anymore."

"I want our members to know that they're not just restoring power during natural disasters and emergencies like hurricanes or tornadoes, wildfires or floods. They're ambassadors for the IBEW — for the whole labor movement," Stephenson said. "People take notice, even people who aren't inclined to support unions."

Davis said he's grateful for the IBEW members from across the U.S. and Canada who came to the aide of the Floridians and others who were impacted by Irma. "This storm caused some real damage, both in property and in human life," he said, "but to see our brothers and sisters from hundreds and thousands of miles away who came to help makes me proud. They signed up for this dangerous assignment, and they've shown their commitment to safety, skill and professionalism throughout. On behalf of our members in this region and the people they serve, we won't forget what you all have done for us."