Hundreds of utility trucks from TX-- and I'm sure from all over the country --were on their way there as the storm was going ashore.
That's what they do. But they can't get to where they need to be until the roads are cleared. Once that happens it moves pretty fast.
When we lost electricity for three weeks after Rita all the highlines had been knocked down and had to be repaired--approx 70 miles of it-- as well as the local lines brought down by trees.
Areas were set up with tents to feed the utility workers who work sun up 'til sun down. They parked in a field...hundreds of trucks...where they were fed. I guess they slept in their trucks. All hotels were full or closed.
It's really remarkable how fast it goes. These are men from all over the country who aren't familiar at all with where they are working. IMO, they are the heros!
I was without power three days due to Rita. However, counties with many trees were down a long time. It knocked down zillions of trees in the Sam Houston National Forest and towns/counties near it were without power that three weeks you are talking about.
After Ike and out of power for five days, when it came back on, it was glorious - celebration time. I also recall I was afraid it would go off again any minute - I didn't trust it to stay on. After a few hours, I thought maybe it will stay on. Sleeping that night was better than sleeping with a battery powered fan on the table next to the bed. However, without those battery fans, life would have been much harder.