Utility crews are returning home to Northwest Ohio after spending three weeks helping to restore power along the storm battered east coast.

Dave Bobbitt says he and his crews arrived in New Jersey one hour before Sandy hit.

"A lot of people were panicking. A lot of people were without lights, still dealing with personal damage from wind, and trees falling on their house."

Just after the superstorm passed, they hit the streets.

“We gotta roll up our sleeves and get ready to help somebody,” recalled Bobbitt.

Splitting up into four locations, his 18 three-man-crews helped restore power to thousands. They worked seven days per week, up to 18 hours a day in the rain and the snow.

“A lot of people get upset when they lose power for a couple of hours," said Bobbitt. "Imagine it being 30 degrees outside and you lose power, and you see nobody on your street... and then we role in.”

 They were sights Bobbitt has seen before: he and his guys go into areas affected by natural disasters all the time. While Sandy wasn't the worst he has seen, he says residents were some of the most accomodating.

“We had people coming and offering to go buy us coffee, meals," said Bobbitt. "We had people really just showing gratitude, thankful to see us.”

 His crews were thankful to help those who had lost it all.

“Our heart goes out to them. Losing your power is one thing, but losing your home, losing your car, losing your pets. Then you go family members, older family members where they have nothing; they lost everything," said Bobbitt.“It gave us great pleasure knowing we could help and make a difference.”

Bobbitt tells us almost all of the power had been restored in the areas he and his crews served by the time they left to return home.