Thousands of utility crews from across the nation are headed to the fairgrounds, which is being used as a staging area for American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma as it works to restore power to hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses.

"It's no holds barred, they're headed this way," said PSO spokeswoman Andrea Chancellor.

About 1,500 to 2,000 line workers and hundreds of tree trimmers are expected to arrive at the fairgrounds in the next few days.

PSO employs about 300 line crew members locally.

"It's a mutual agreement," Chancellor said. "When we need help we bring people in and when they need help we do the same."

The fairgrounds' on-site food and beverage supplier, EXPO SERVE Management Corp., is working with the QuikTrip commissary's support to provide three meals a day for the workers beginning Wednesday morning.

Crews will be fed in the lower level of the QuikTrip Center, formally the Exposition Center.

Siegmund Brown, president of EXPO SERVE, said his staff of 50 or so will be working 24 hours a day to feed the 4,000 workers expected at the fairgrounds each day.

"All costs associated with the meals are being reimbursed by PSO," Brown said.

The work crews will do more than eat at Expo Square: Those needing a place to sleep will be provided

Trucks used for tree removal -- and the refuse they collect -- will be kept on the infield of Fair Meadows race track.

Thousands of other PSO and contractor trucks also will be parked at the fairgrounds.

"We're very pleased to be able to make sure the PSO and all the other emergency crews have a place to work, sleep and eat," said Expo Square President and CEO Rick Bjorklund.

Part of the Fair Meadows' simulcast facility, meanwhile, is being used as a command center by PSO.

Bjorklund said the utility company will use only half of the building, leaving the other half open for simulcast wagering.

Expo Square, including the simulcast facility, was without power Monday.

Fair Meadows officials have spent the last few days repairing equipment affected by the storm and hope to have the facility open Wednesday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will also have a presence at Expo Square.

The relief agency will store at the fairgrounds industrial-size equipment for distribution to high-priority locations.

Kevin Canfield 581-8313
kevin.canfield@tulsaworld.com