Kankakee Valley REMC provides an inside look at severe weather preparation

When severe weather strikes Northwest Indiana, restoring power is a high-stakes race against the elements that requires a sophisticated blend of logistics, engineering and determination. Kankakee Valley Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) leads the way in restoring power by managing a complex, 24-hour operation to keep its service territory resilient against volatile Midwestern storms. 

“The nature of storms is so unpredictable,” said Line Superintendent Tim Bowley. “It is hard to try and predict what damage a storm might cause and what materials we might need.  Honestly, when the lights go out, that is when we put our years of experience and plans into action.”

Based in Wanatah, Kankakee Valley REMC serves seven rural counties with a strong focus on storm preparedness and rapid response. The utility cooperative maintains skilled crews, fully stocked trucks, and a constant inventory of poles and transformers to support immediate repairs without relying on last-minute supply chains. By using statewide mutual aid networks, Kankakee Valley REMC ensures efficient response to unpredictable storms across its service territory.

“We set up our system so the different parts are connected and can back each other up, or what we call backfeeding, if something goes wrong,” said Director of Operations Scott Hanson. “It’s something we keep in mind during maintenance and construction, and it’s part of how we operate every single day.”

Kankakee Valley REMC manages power outages and restores power using a substation-out strategy, which requires fixing the large main lines first to ensure electricity can reach the rest of the grid. Crews work alongside local police and fire departments to secure hazardous areas and safely clear downed wires while maintaining safety through rigorous “repeat-back” radio protocols. Though tornadoes cause severe localized damage, ice storms are often the most difficult to repair due to their blanket effect on the entire system in heavy, widespread destruction.  

“If the county has to close down a roadway, they work really well with us by putting up barricades so we can clear the road and work to make the area safe for our crews and the residents,” said Energy Services Specialist Darrell Marks. 

Kankakee Valley REMC combines veteran expertise with modern technology to protect its crews and the public. Every lineman completes a rigorous four-year apprenticeship and utilizes an integrated GPS that allows dispatchers to track trucks on a live outage map. While these digital tools streamline the response, manual, hands-on labor is required in treacherous conditions. The environment also demands absolute precision, which crews maintain through a strict system of verbal communication. 

“It is actually really impressive how the guys will talk to each other,” Marks said. “They repeat directions or orders, and make sure there is no miscommunication or misunderstanding when they’re doing work in certain areas.”

Recovery continues long after the clouds clear during a dedicated cleanup phase that typically lasts one to two weeks. During this period, crews replace temporary fixes with permanent repairs and inspect the system for hidden damage like weakened poles. The team debriefs after every storm to analyze its response and improve future reliability. This effort relies on members reporting downed lines immediately to help identify hazards faster. Because linemen often work 18-hour shifts during major outages, they take mandatory breaks to stay sharp and handle high-voltage repairs safely.

“You’ve got to take care of your people,” Bowley said. “You have to know their limits.  When they’re exhausted, mistakes happen and in this line of work, a mistake can cost someone their life.”

Kankakee Valley REMC is committed to safety as a top priority and asks for community support amidst the spring showers to come. Even when the weather is at its worst, the path to restoration is clear. As crews head into the upcoming spring showers, their focus remains on bringing light back to the community. Sharing in this mission is the dedicated staff managing the surge of calls and coordination behind the scenes.  

“Please be patient with not only our crews out working, but also to the employees answering the phones,” Hansen said. “I understand being without power can be upsetting, but our customer service representatives do a fantastic job.  Everyone at the co-op is working diligently to get the power back on to the membership.” 

For more information about Kankakee Valley REMC’s commitment to service and reliability, visit kvremc.com.