Local crews preparing to assist in Hurricane Sandy effort

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Crews from Central Texas are preparing to pitch in and help the Eastern Seaboard grapple with the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Texas Task Force 1, a team of first responders that usually assembles in College Station for deployment, has one member staged as part of the national response in anticipation of Sandy’s landfall.

The American Red Cross Central Texas Region has deployed two volunteers as a the national organization's effort. One is from the Austin area and the other is from Kerrville.

“This storm is dangerous and it’s critical to follow the advice of local emergency officials. If people are told to evacuate, they need to do it,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. “The Red Cross has shelters open and will be opening more throughout the day. Hundreds of disaster workers are ready with relief supplies and emergency vehicles in place to help.”

Austin Energy, meanwhile, said Monday that it has released 10 of its three-man contract tree trimming crews and two, four-man contract distribution crews to help restore the massive power outages expected to be caused by Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast.

Five crews from Wright Tree Service and five crews from Asplund will assist with the tree trimming and cleanup effort. Wright and Asplund trim trees along some 400 miles of power lines and on more than 12,000 properties annually for Austin Energy to help prevent power outages caused by trees.

Pike Electric will send two distribution crews. Pike crews provide contract electric construction support for Austin Energy. Pike, Asplund and Wright are all nationally based companies familiar with working hurricanes and other emergencies.

Oncor Electric Service, which serves customers in Williamson County, is sending crews from North Texas to assist the effort in Maryland

Keith Voight of Edison Electric Institute said power companies from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico were preparing to send crews and equipment to help with power restoration efforts after Sandy passes.

Oncor Electric Service, which serves customers in Williamson County, is sending crews from North Texas to assist the effort in Maryland