SUMMERDALE, Ala. — For about 34 members of Baldwin EMC, the next week is gong to be anything but routine.

They are heading to Houma, La. to assist with recovery operations where Hurricane Gustav hit earlier this week. They will be assisting the Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association.

I’ll be clearing the right-of-way, putting up lines,” said Equipment Operator Ric Boutin. “I’ll be clearing trees and branches.”

A resident of Spanish Fort, this isn’t the first time Boutin has gone off to help another electric company after a storm.

“I’ve been to Washington and St. Tammany Parish after Katrina,” said Boutin.

The help is mutual. According to Karen Moore, Baldwin EMC cice president of member services and public relations, about 1,000 workers came to this area to assist with recovery from Hurricane Ivan.

“We had crews come in from all over,” said Boutin. “They were here from Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia. Boutin estimated that Baldwin EMC contingent will be taking about 20 trucks with them.

The crews won’t be going empty handed According to Donna Givens, an official with the power company, each truck will have a seven-day supply of drinks, a blow up mattress (but it is expected that SLECA will have secured hotel rooms and meals for the crews,) bread, lunch meat, cheese, and condiments.

And one other thing — a good supply of beef jerky.

“The guys just eat this up,” said Givens.

“We’re going to help out,” said Boutin. “These people helped us out.”

Boutin added that “You see things you’ll never forget” while on a recovery operation.

Two things s Boutin is not looking forward to — mosquitos and “love bugs. ”

“The mosquitos they can spray for,” said Boutin. “The love bugs, well …

But, the love bugs get on everything — the trucks, your hard hat, everything.”

Besides the bugs, there is something else that makes this trip harder than usual.

“I’m a newlywed,” said Boutin. “We’ll be married a year in November.”

Boutin's wife is Waverly Boutin, who teaches at Pine Grove Elementary.

“This is going to be harder on her,” Boutin said. “She’s not used to this.”

There is one thing people can do to make life easier for Boutin and people like him after a disaster.

“If you are running a generator, put a sign up telling us one is in use,” said Boutin. “We can get feedback on the line.”