While a school in San Juan is celebrating the return of power since Hurricane Maria, hundreds of thousands are still without electricity.
- TECO crews heading to Puerto Rico to help restore power
- 25 lineman, support staff to help restore power for 6 weeks
- RELATED: Duke Energy workers head to Puerto Rico to help restore power
Officials say the complexity of damage to the island's grid is the reason why--and crews continue to find more unexpected damage.
"After 112 days, THE LIGHT IS BACK! 💡"
— CNN International (@cnni) January 17, 2018
Staff and students rejoice as the lights at this Puerto Rico school were turned back on last week. The school had gone 112 days without electricity. pic.twitter.com/e45ReRhmew
Wednesday morning, 25 TECO lineman and support staff flew out to help restore power in Puerto Rico for almost two months.
Many said this was an assignment they couldn't pass up because of how badly the people in Puerto Rico need their help.
"By going, I'm helping people who can't help themselves," Michael Davis, TECO employee, said.
Crews flew out from Tampa International Airport Wednesday morning to join crews from other electrical companies. TECO already has two dozen bucket trucks and other vehicles on the island.
Crews will be Puerto Rico for the next 6 weeks, and while many say it will be hard to be away from their families, they know their help is greatly needed.
Ronald Wright, a TECO employee, said he'll know just how grateful people in Puerto Rico will be once they get their power restored.
"To help people out who've been in need. They've been out [of power] for almost half a year, and it's just hard to imagine how long they've been out of power," Wright said.
Bay News 9 asked TECO why it has taken so long to send help, and they said they can't just send crews to the island, but that help needs to be requested first. And this is the first request they've received for help from the Edison Electric Institute, who put out a call for 1500 lineman across the country.