Midwest On the Scene: Group Honored for Efforts to Restore Power in St. Louis After Tornado
Nearly a year after a devastating tornado struck St. Louis, a group of area electrical industry firms and skilled trades unions—dubbed ReConnect STL—has been honored for the team’s efforts to get the power turned back on in the city.
IBEW Local 1 and St. Louis National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) earned an Innovation in Philanthropy Award presented at an event on April 16 hosted by the St. Louis Business Journal.
In the recovery initiative, IBEW/NECA collaborated with the city, suppliers and other agencies to restore power in tornado ravaged areas of North St. Louis. The team orchestrating the community recovery initiative included Guarantee Electrical Co., ArchKey Solutions, RJP Electric, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1, the St. Louis Chapter of NECA, St. Louis Home Repair Network, Graybar, power company Ameren Missouri and the City of St. Louis Tornado Recover Program.
The harrowing storm, designated an EF3 tornado, touched down on May 16, 2025. Five people were killed and 38 were injured. The tornado’s high winds—up to 152 mph—caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure, with over 5,000 properties reported damaged and more than 100,000 customers without power. Damage was estimated at more than $1 billion.
Guarantee Electrical CEO Rich Ledbetter initiated the all-hands-on-deck recovery effort when he called Mayor Cara Spencer and offered assistance. Guarantee was founded 124 years ago to provide power for the 1904 World’s Fair. “So there is and always has been a commitment to the community,” Ledbetter told the St. Louis Business Journal.
During a panel discussion at the Frontenac Hilton award ceremony, Ledbetter praised the restoration team, including the NECA contractors engaged in ReConnect STL and the IBEW Local 1, which deployed its skills to help conquer the enormous challenges that included clearing debris and repairing internal damage to electrical infrastructure. Guarantee also offered $100,000 in services and materials free of charge. ArchKey Solutions, PayneCrest, GrayBar and IBEW made similar commitments.
It was the second time in the last two years that the IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection partnership has been honored in the Innovation in Philanthropy Awards. The partnership was saluted in 2024 for its work with Rebuilding Together St. Louis, a nonprofit organization that provides free, essential home repairs and safety modifications for income-qualified older adults, veterans and individuals with disabilities.
