Empowered April 2026

HOOKS, GUMBO AND GRIT: ANSWERING THE CALL FOR MUTUAL AID

The same storm that blanketed Oklahoma with 10 inches of snow in January swept into northern Mississippi, leaving a trail of ice and widespread devestation. At the height of the storm, nearly 90% of the Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association’s system was without power. More than 26,000 meters sat in the dark at the peak of the outages.

States away, Central Rural Electric Cooperative crews were loading trucks ready to help.

“It looked like the ice had wadded up the line and thrown it down,” said Jerry Cundiff, Central lineman. “All we saw while coming in was ice, snow, broken crossarms and downed lines.”

The drive to Batesville, Mississippi, took the crew 16 hours as they made their way through icy conditions.

Once there, their first night was spent at an armory where they stayed on cots alongside 60 other linemen before rising

bright and early to start restoration efforts.

The storm did not simply knock lines down; it destroyed infrastructure. Poles were snapped, lines twisted and tangled, crossarms shattered, and power equipment was destroyed. In many locations, there was nothing left for crews to fix. Much had to be rebuilt and reconstructed.

Much of the restoration was done the old-fashioned way, “off hooks,” climbing poles and working by hand. Getting to the job sites, however, was often as difficult as the repairs themselves.

“It wasn’t really mud; we called it gumbo,” Cundiff said. “It was different mud than what we have here. Our mud is sandier, not as sticky. This mud stuck. While we were digging a hole, water was coming back into it; all the gumbo, whatever it touched, was hard to get off. It stuck to the shovels, to our boots and to the truck. It was marsh conditions.”

Despite the destruction, what stood out to Central’s linemen was the generosity of the community.

“The farmers were very generous, patient and incredibly helpful,”

Cundiff said. “On the third day, we had a farmer follow us with a tractor and helped us get in and out of some locations so we could restore power.”

Cundiff stated that the farmers were a big part of helping Central’s linemen work. If it wasn’t for the locals’ help, it would’ve taken longer to restore power.

Members of the Mississippi cooperative frequently stopped to offer help, purchase meals, or simply say thank you, despite being without power for weeks.

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APRIL 2026

Central Board of Trustees:

Sid Sperry, President (District 4)

Greg Tytenicz, Vice President (District 2)

Ken Starks, Secretary/Treasurer (District 5)

Randy Wedel (District 1)

Melanie McGuire (District 3)

James Wells (District 6)

Randy Ethridge (District 7)

Executive Team:

Shane Burgess - Chief Executive Officer

Sondra White - Chief Financial Officer

Mark Prather - President of Fiber and Technology

Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Brand Strategy and Engagement

Empowered Editors:

Larry Mattox - Director of Marketing and Communications

Kory Bowman - Marketing and Communications Specialist

Ivy Swan - Marketing and Communications Specialist

Contact Us: editor@mycentral.coop 405-372-2884 | 800-375-2884

3305 S. Boomer Rd. | P.O. Box 1809 Stillwater, OK 74076 mycentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop instagram.com/MyCentralCoop

These lines are repaired by KAMO Power, our power provider.

Central Rural Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

APRIL IS LINEWORKER APPRECIATION MONTH

This month and every month, Central is proud to recognize the dedicated team who keep the power flowing for our members.

From building and maintaining miles of line to restoring power after outages, they are the backbone of our cooperative. If you see a lineman this month, say hello and thank you!

DIG IN THIS GARDENING SEASON

April in Oklahoma means two things: storm season and planting season. As the days grow longer and the soil begins to warm, many of Central’s members head outside to refresh flower beds, plant gardens and add a little color to their yards. To help you get started, we’re highlighting a few of our local gardening stores that have everything you need.

CHANDLER

Lincoln County Farm Center 308 W. 15th St.

The Honey Pot Garden & Gift 1103 Manvel Ave.

Chandler Hardware 822 Manvel Ave.

Atwoods 1700 E. 1st St.

CRESCENT

Jones Garden Center 423 N. Grand

CUSHING

Hilltop Greenhouse 1520 W. Main Pl.

GreenLife Planet 215 N. Cleveland Ave.

Atwoods 2004 E. Main St.

GUTHRIE

Guthrie Greenhouse 1228 N. Wentz St.

TaraCotta Garden Outlet 115 E. Grant Ave.

KNOW WHAT’S BELOW BEFORE YOU DIG

Always contact 811 before putting a shovel in the ground, or you could disrupt power or internet. Call 811 before digging.

PERKINS

Woodlands & Cloth 322 N. Main St.

PERRY

Perry Agri-Center & Fert Plant 205 Gene Taylor St.

Tractor Supply 1506 Fir St.

STILLWATER

Big Creek Nursery 3307 E. 6th Ave.

Plants & Co. Collective 728 Western Rd.

Bustani Plant Farm 1313 E. 44th Ave.

Stillwater Succulents 3023 N. Jardot Rd.

Stillwater Milling Company 502 E. 6th Ave.

Tractor Supply 3624 S. Perkisn Rd.

STROUD

Patton’s Produce 612 E. Main St.

ARE YOU READY FOR STORM SEASON?

If you’ve lived in Oklahoma for longer than five minutes, you know spring doesn’t just bring flowers. It can bring fierce winds, lightning, hail and the occasional tornado warning.

Severe weather can pop up quickly, and the best time to prepare is before the sirens start wailing.

Keep your storm prep kit in an easy-to-access location and check it each spring to replace expired items. Here are some items to include:

• Flashlights

• Extra batteries

• Portable phone chargers or power banks

• First aid kit

• Bottled water

• Nonperishable food

• Manual can opener

• Battery-powered or handcrank radio

• Blankets and extra clothing

Storms can happen at any moment. If you experience an outage, report it to Central by calling 405-372-2884. Avoid downed power lines and always assume lines are energized.

ENERGY CAMP

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

This summer, Central is giving two local eighthgrade students the chance to attend Youth Power Energy Camp, an actionpacked, four-day leadership experience designed to spark confidence, curiosity and a deeper understanding of the energy that connects our communities.

To apply, students must currently be in eighth grade or entering eighth grade in the fall. They must complete an application and submit a 500-word essay. Applications are due by April 17.

For more information about Energy Camp, application requirements, or to submit an application, scan the QR code or visit mycentral.coop/energycamp.

n HOOKS, GUMBO AND GRIT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

After all the long days and difficult jobs, one moment remains especially meaningful to the linemen.

The crew had visited a home that needed more materials when they met a roughly 18-month-old girl who was picking up sticks with her mother and father.

“She didn’t speak much, but she would sign to us,” Cundiff said. “As soon as their power turned on, she lit up with smiles.”

When disaster strikes, electric cooperatives across the country rely on longstanding mutual aid agreements. These agreements ensure that when one cooperative is overwhelmed, others step in to help.

Importantly, the cost of mutual aid is not paid by Central’s members. Expenses are covered by the cooperative and the state receiving assistance.

By the time the first crew returned home, after 16-hour days for 14 days, outages at Tallahatchie Valley had dropped to fewer than 2,000 meters. A second crew from Central deployed on February 11, serving nine additional days, including assisting with fiber restoration.

In the end, mutual aid isn’t just about rebuilding lines but about neighbors helping neighbors, even when those neighbors are states away. It’s about the farmers, co-op and line workers working side by side until the lights come back on. It’s proof that while storms may tear down poles and wad wire, they also reveal something stronger, the power of community.

and Jacob Schroeder.