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As powerful Hurricane Milton batters Florida, many more people could find themselves without power than during Helene two weeks ago.
Milton is aimed at a denser part of Florida, the Tampa Bay region, with more homes and businesses. Even utility customers in South Florida, which isn’t in the hurricane path, could be left in the dark if tropical storm-strength winds bring down power lines.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said it’s likely Florida could face even more power outages from Hurricane Milton than in Hurricane Helene, which came ashore along a less populated stretch of the Gulf Coast in northern Florida. Helene knocked out power to more than two million homes and businesses, according to reports.
“The Helene power restoration was textbook,” DeSantis said at a news briefing at the start of the week. “Now we’re looking at potentially more outages.”
The effort to restore power after Hurricane Milton may also be affected by the number of outages, stretched resources and the scattering of utility crews.
Florida Power & Light has 14,000 workers at the ready to address power outages. But because of restoration efforts in the Carolinas after Hurricane Helene, the utility had to hire additional contractors from New Mexico, California and Arizona instead of from Georgia and North Carolina.
Will the issues lead to longer waits for restored service?
FPL spokesperson Chris McGrath said people need to expect power outages, but it’s not known how long they’ll last.
“It’s too soon to tell. It’s all going to depend on the final track and intensity,” McGrath said. “Once we have a good idea of all of the infrastructure, that’s when we can communicate for restoration times.”
Power can go out even before landfall, which is forecast for Florida’s Gulf Coast late Wednesday or early Thursday. Outages often happen when trees topple over power lines. High winds and over saturated soil weakening tree roots can create the perfect environment for flying debris to bring down those lines.
Tampa Electric has 4,500 utility workers ready to roll from Texas and Minnesota to help restore power, utility spokesperson Kim Selph said in an email to the Miami Herald.
“Helene was a safe and speedy restoration, thanks to the incredible support from utility workers across various states and our strong partnerships within the community,” she said.
But this is Milton.
“As we now face Hurricane Milton, which is a more direct threat, we anticipate greater damage to West Central Florida and longer restoration times,” Selph said. “Many families are still grappling with the aftermath of Helene, particularly those whose homes were impacted by the unprecedented storm surge .”
Tips for power outages
Wondering what to expect during a power outage? FPL and Tampa Electric have the following tips:
Pack a hurricane preparedness kit with a radio, flashlights, batteries and non-perishable foods. Turn non-essential appliances and electronics off or unplug them to keep them safe from surges during a storm. If evacuating turn off electricity at the main breaker while the home is still dry. This protects the electrical system from damage, supports personal safety and improves restoration time. If using a generator, make sure you know how to use it. Track power outage information. For FPL, turn to the FPL Power Tracker tool information for the latest information. Tampa Electric users can turn to Tampa Electric Outage Map . Miami Herald staff writer Alex Harris contributed to this report.
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