Utility workers from the South Alabama Electric Cooperative in Troy are in Mississippi and Louisiana this week, working to help restore power in regions stuck by Hurricane Gustav.

Max Davis, SAEC general manger, said eight employees and four vehicles left Monday for Bay St. Louis. Miss., where they assisted the Mississippi Coast Electric Cooperative restore power to thousands of customers.

The SAEC group left Mississippi Wednesday for Baton Rouge, La., where they will assist Dixie Electric Cooperative and South Louisiana Electric Cooperative.

“We know that if the hurricane had come through here we would be calling for help, so we are more than willing to go and help in times of need,” Davis said.

About 175 utility workers from Alabama electric cooperatives are assisting with hurricane recovery, the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives reported. More than a million people in the Gulf region from Mississippi to Texas were still without power on Wednesday.

Davis said the SAEC workers will return to Troy this weekend and another group will be sent to take their place.

“That’s about all you can ask an employee to work under those conditions,” Davis said. “They are working 14 to 16 hour days.”