UE CREW HEADED FOR ALABAMA

Their slogan is "Just ask UE." And that's exactly what Alabama Power did.

Alabama suffered wind and storm damage Wednesday when Hurricane Opal hit land at the Florida Panhandle. About 35 Union Electric Co. utility employees, most dressed in blue jeans, T-shirts and baseball caps, left Cape Girardeau Thursday for Birmingham, Ala.

Several area crews volunteered for the trip but will be paid for their work. They will be restoring power and utilities in the areas hit by Hurricane Opal, primarily in Alabama where about 935,000 people were without power.

About 2 million people in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas were without power also.

"Once you leave, you never know where they'll send you," said lineman Jim Morrison from the Charleston office.

In fact, the crews don't know for certain how long they will stay. Some were told one week; others two weeks.

Hurricane season usually runs from June to November.

Because Missouri is centrally located, UE crews are often requested to assist after severe weather, said superintendent Jim Ramage.

Last year crews were sent to Arkansas to help restore downed lines after an ice storm. At other times they were sent to Kansas, Wisconsin and South Carolina after Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

John Klebe, who has been a lineman with UE for 12 years, is going to Alabama to work his first hurricane.

"I went to House Springs this summer after a tornado there and Mississippi and Arkansas after the ice storm, but I'm from Iowa so this is my first hurricane," said Klebe, who works in Dexter.

Most of the work will be done in 16- and 18-hour shifts. Linemen will restore power to the most people with the least amount of work, he said.

Once the crews get to Alabama, they expect to be greeted warmly by Birmingham residents.

"People go without power for a week, and by the time we get there it could be three weeks, so they take care of you," Klebe said.

The American Red Cross will also be there to help take care of the hurricane victims.

Two Red Cross representatives from Cape Girardeau left Wednesday with an emergency response vehicle.

They will provide care in shelters near Birmingham, said Ron MacCubbin, director of emergency services.

"It's going to be a long drawn-out process," he said, adding that more volunteers would be sent on a second wave later.

The chapter only sends people because supplies will be sent from national warehouses, he said.

Hurricane Opal is probably the worst one since Camille, MacCubbin said, adding that the coastal areas aren't the only places affected.

"The effects are not just along the coast," he said. "It's downgraded to a storm but there is a lot of rain ahead of it."

The Salvation Army is collecting food, cleaning and monetary donations to help the hurricane victims. To donate items, call the office at 335-7000 or mail them to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 802; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702.