AEP Texas is sending 81 employees to West Virginia to help AEP Appalachian Power Company restore power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Crews left Texas this past weekend and will begin work once the storm clears and it is safe to proceed.

Additionally, the company has released 38 contract crews to help with power restoration.

Robert De Leon, AEP Texas manager of region support, said these crews might be reassigned, depending on the damage sustained in their area. In all, impacted utilities are requesting about 20,000 additional workers from other utilities to help with restoration.

AEP Texas Distribution Vice President Bruce Evans said that the company participates in a mutual assistance agreement with other utilities to send company personnel when a major storm strikes.

“The utilities we assist also send help our way when a storm strikes our service area,” Evans noted. “I am very proud of our employees who will be facing adverse conditions in order to safely restore power to the area.”