PBSC students and alums help restore power to thousands
Seven Palm Beach State College students and alumni worked together to get power restored to thousands in the surrounding communities after Hurricane Irma.
The group, who works at TRC Solutions in Palm Beach Gardens, traveled throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties for two weeks conducting field assessments and gathering data on damaged utility lines.
They were also in charge of keeping the public safe by redirecting pedestrians and traffic around downed power lines.
“We would stay with the wire until the crew arrived to fix it,” said Brad Robinson, an associate distribution designer at TRC.
The group, which included Robinson, Joshua Heinl, Justin Ohme, Abner Llerena, Jordian Forbes, Jessy Giraldo and Fauser Carvalho, worked 16-hour days after the storm. They entered data into computer software systems about downed power lines that was sent directly to Florida Power and Light crews. They also followed up with customers who were having issues with the electricity to their house due to damaged wires.
Even though the days were long and hot, Robinson said he really enjoyed the project.
“I like working outdoors, but I also like knowing that I’m doing something to help my community,” said Robinson. “It’s very rewarding to see people so happy when their power is restored and get their lives back on track.”
TRC Solutions, which provides integrated services to the power, oil and gas, environmental and infrastructure markets, has become an internship site for many students in the College’s Electrical Power Technology Program.
According to Associate Professor Oleg Andric, 25 students in the program have landed internships at the company over the last three years.
