Hundreds of linemen and utility workers have been working around the clock to restore power to the tens of thousands in Smith County. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Inundated with work orders, lineworkers and utility personnel are working tirelessly around the clock to restore power to the tens of thousands in Smith County and the surrounding area.

To show appreciation, Lone Star Harley-Davidson in Tyler on Wednesday offered a free lunch for lineworkers.

“If you drive around … you’ll see them going back and forth,” said Joey Rock, owner and operator of Lone Star Harley-Davidson. “Plus they’re right across the street at Oncor, which is where they’re dispatched from. We felt the need to reach out and help those people because they do so much.”

Three days of back-to-back severe weather left over 71,000 residents in Smith County without electricity and resulted in several road closures due to downed trees and power lines. Many are still recovering from previous storms that left damage two weeks ago.

Utility partners from multiple states have responded to a request for assistance. They have been working with Oncor personnel and contractors to help with damage assessment and power restoration.

“It’s definitely rough down here,” said William Strickland, a Class C lineman from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “We’re doing everything we can.”

Tyler Preston, a journeyman from B&B Electrical & Utility Contractors Inc. based out of Gulfport, Mississippi, said the crews are doing their best to work around each other.

“It’s just a matter of having effective communication between all of the companies … there’s a lot of us working around each other,” he said. “We’re just staying safe as best as we can.”

Many within the community have expressed gratitude for the lineworkers’ diligent efforts to restore power in hazardous conditions.

“Thankfully, we haven’t had anyone badgering us about getting their power back on,” he said. “They’ve been really grateful once we do.”

According to Lineman Central, 42 out of every 100,000 lineman are killed on the job each year due to the combination of high voltage power and heights. A lineworker also risks losing limbs through electrical shocks. Last week, a lineman died while working to restore power in Rains County.

“They kind of risk their lives every day to do this, to help us get our power back on,” Rock said. “And so many of our employees are either affected or impacted by the storm … so it’s big for us. We’re all willing to help.”

The Lone Star Harley-Davidson team grilled hot dogs and burgers, offering condiments as well as choices of chips, water and sodas. They offered to bring the lunch to workers or they could hang out around the building.

“It’s just something easy for us to do to help them,” Rock said. “It helps the community … and we want to give back. We really appreciate all the work they do to keep the power on here.”

Some employees of the motorcycle dealer even came on their day off to help feed the lineworkers.

“We really appreciate them,” Strickland said. “You don’t find much hospitality like this, especially out of town, so it’s very much appreciated.”

Preston said he and his fellow workers were grateful and appreciated the gesture.

“It’s such a blessing,” Preston said. “It’s less stress on us to find somewhere to eat and dealing with other people trying to get lunch too because they’re out of power, as well as people on lunch breaks. We can get our lunch and then head back to work and get the power back on.”

Lone Star Harley-Davidson was one of many businesses lending a helping hand to lineworkers this week. Others offering free meals or deals include Ruby’s Mexican Restaurant, Bubba’s 33, Pop’s Wine Bar, Good Vibes Nutrition Tyler, Cup O’ Joy, Revive & Restore Health and Wellness, Lavish Blendz Barber Studio, Odd Hand Tattoo, Just Pies, Rose City Customs, House of Fadez Barbershop, Tamalocos Mexican Food, Caribbean Kitchen, ETX Brewing Co. and Hidden Gardens Nursery & Tea House. Burning Tree Land Management also cooked chili, smoked sausage and cornbread for lineworkers and were set up in the Broadway Square Mall parking lot Wednesday offering the free lunch. Green Acres Baptist Church also offered free lunch Wednesday and plans to do so again Thursday in their parking lot (1607 Troup Hwy. in Tyler) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.