WAKE FOREST, N.C.- Cory Lawrence, a serviceman with Wake Electric Membership Corporation (Wake Electric) in Wake Forest, had the honor of competing in the 12th Pole Top Rescue Competition for North Carolina’s electric cooperatives. Lawrence has been with Wake Electric for 12 years. Cory and his wife, Dana, live in Youngsville with their daughter, Grace Anne.
Lawrence competed against 23 other electric cooperative line workers from North Carolina on Tuesday, November 27 at the state competition held on the lawn of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives’ headquarters building in Raleigh.
Pole Top Rescue competitors participate in a scenario where they must complete a series of events, including: placing an emergency radio call, donning climbing gear, scaling 20 feet up a utility pole, rigging a rope, lowering a 105-pound mannequin and beginning CPR.
This year’s competition had two categories based on the type of protection competitors used to prevent from falling. One group (including Lawrence) used a newer form of restraints that wrap around the pole to protect from falls during the ascent and descent, and the other group secured themselves in the more traditional way with a lifeline and life hook.
Cory competed in the personal fall restraints category against 16 other linemen, and came in tenth place by finishing the drill in 2 minutes and 29:77 seconds.
More than 600 North Carolina electric cooperative line workers began the year competing for the 2012 title. Winners of local cooperative and regional competitions advanced to the November 27 state championship.
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