wjefferis
Contributor
I copied this from the PNJ:
Power being restored at Fort Pickens
For the first time in five years, electricity is surging from the entrance of Fort Pickens through 4.5 miles of new underground line into the ranger station.
By next weekend, full power could be restored to the entire park, including campsites, the visitors center and other buildings.
This is very exciting, said Ranger Bob DeLuane. We get about 20 calls a day from people wanting to know when will we have electricity at the campsites.
Buildings in Fort Pickens have been running off generators since Hurricane Ivan steamrolled across the historic National Seashore in 2004 and destroyed the main power line.
During the next week, Gulf Power will energize existing lines that run from the ranger station to the other parts of the park, Gulf Power spokeswoman Sandy Sims said.
Crews expect to troubleshoot problems with the lines, which were not damaged by storm surge from Ivan, she said.
Our hope is that by next weekend Fort Pickens will be fully energized, she said. This is our last Hurricane Ivan recovery project.
Once the electricity is restored, park management will become easier, said Nina Kelson, deputy superintendent of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Staff will be able to move out of a temporary trailer and into a new entrance station that is nearing completion as well as into the ranger station.
Motor homes will finally be able to plug into the outlets in the campground instead of using generators.
Nick Jimenez of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is in a pop-up camper with his family this week. He said they dont mind roughing it.
But it would be more convenient to have showers and restrooms, the 15-year-old said.
Utility crews began replacing the power line in early September. Kelson said its taken a long time because everything has depended on something else.
Alan Steele, Gulf Power superintendent of special projects, said crews installed the new line 6 feet underground, as opposed to the traditional 30 inches, to better withstand a hurricane surge.
A machine called a plow-in was used to sink the line in the fine, sugary sand.
Its much quicker, he said. The pipe crew laid 4.5 miles of pipe in four days.
Kelson said the next step will be installing a sewer system. Thats expected to be completed sometime next spring.
http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200910092011/NEWS01/91009030
Power being restored at Fort Pickens
For the first time in five years, electricity is surging from the entrance of Fort Pickens through 4.5 miles of new underground line into the ranger station.
By next weekend, full power could be restored to the entire park, including campsites, the visitors center and other buildings.
This is very exciting, said Ranger Bob DeLuane. We get about 20 calls a day from people wanting to know when will we have electricity at the campsites.
Buildings in Fort Pickens have been running off generators since Hurricane Ivan steamrolled across the historic National Seashore in 2004 and destroyed the main power line.
During the next week, Gulf Power will energize existing lines that run from the ranger station to the other parts of the park, Gulf Power spokeswoman Sandy Sims said.
Crews expect to troubleshoot problems with the lines, which were not damaged by storm surge from Ivan, she said.
Our hope is that by next weekend Fort Pickens will be fully energized, she said. This is our last Hurricane Ivan recovery project.
Once the electricity is restored, park management will become easier, said Nina Kelson, deputy superintendent of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Staff will be able to move out of a temporary trailer and into a new entrance station that is nearing completion as well as into the ranger station.
Motor homes will finally be able to plug into the outlets in the campground instead of using generators.
Nick Jimenez of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is in a pop-up camper with his family this week. He said they dont mind roughing it.
But it would be more convenient to have showers and restrooms, the 15-year-old said.
Utility crews began replacing the power line in early September. Kelson said its taken a long time because everything has depended on something else.
Alan Steele, Gulf Power superintendent of special projects, said crews installed the new line 6 feet underground, as opposed to the traditional 30 inches, to better withstand a hurricane surge.
A machine called a plow-in was used to sink the line in the fine, sugary sand.
Its much quicker, he said. The pipe crew laid 4.5 miles of pipe in four days.
Kelson said the next step will be installing a sewer system. Thats expected to be completed sometime next spring.
http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200910092011/NEWS01/91009030
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