With Joe at Pike’s helm, the 1980s brought resurgence. Pike expanded into Kentucky and Georgia, grew its fleet of specialized equipment to 1,200 pieces and purchased a right-of-way company in Georgia and an electrical contractor in Kentucky. The company’s value increased tenfold. A pivotal moment came in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo struck: Pike responded with every available crew from the Carolinas to West Virginia. The response was swift and earned national praise, cementing Pike’s reputation as the gold standard in storm response.