- October 8, 2024
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While Hurricane Milton works its way toward Florida, local power companies, already working the aftermath of Hurricane Helene a couple of weeks back, are getting ready for major outages across the region.
Given the strength of Milton, and that it is heading straight for the Gulf Coast, the companies are warning that the number of outages will be massive and long-lasting.
Duke Energy alone is mobilizing 10,000 responders to deal with expects to be 1 million outages.
Follow the Business Observer for updates on power outages and restoration efforts following Hurricane Milton.
Tampa Electric says it has more than 5,000 utility workers, from as far away as Texas and Minnesota in place to help assess damage and restore power once the storm passes. It says that this is its “largest crew in its history.”
The power company says that despite 52% of electric distribution system being underground, the magnitude of Milton “is unprecedented” and leading to extensive damage to trees that will affect overhead lines.
“Hurricane Milton is expected to cause significant destruction across the region, leading to a longer restoration process than we’ve experienced in the past,” Archie Collins, TECO’s president and CEO says in a statement.
FPL has 14,500 crew members that have been “strategically pre-positioned” ahead of Milton to help restore power.
The company’s president and CEO Armando Pimentel says in a statement that given the heavy rains and winds and a life-threatening storm surge that’s expected, customers need be ready for extended outages.
Once the storm has passed and it’s safe, FPL says, it will conduct damage assessments with crews on the ground and begin working to restore power.
Lee County Electric Cooperative has activated its storm response plan, which includes pre-staging crews and equipment. This includes line workers, tree-trimming crews and specialized vehicles that will be able to quickly respond to outages and to make damage assessments.
It is also working with other utilities and local and state government agencies to secure out-of-state line contractors and vegetation crews to work alongside its own teams.
Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida’s storm director, says that based on its current track Milton will impact the company’s more populated service areas.
To address the outages, it is bringing crews in from Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. This includes power line technicians, vegetation workers, damage assessors and support personnel.
Fountain warns that customers “should expect significant damage and make immediate preparations for extended power outage durations.”
This story will be updated as information becomes available.
