<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2c7KrJ_0vjIQB1U00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2c7KrJ_0vjIQB1U00" width="1320" height="743" >PENSACOLA, Fla. -- While we may not experience direct impacts of Helene, Northwest Florida is playing a role in helping bring vital resources to the areas that will.The Pensacola fairgrounds serve as a Florida power and light processing site for crews making their way across the south to help storm-affected areas.WEAR News spoke to FPL and their partners on why this coordination is important and how past storms can help with recovery after Helene.Hundreds of trucks and resources rolled to the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds ready to make their way across the state following Helene."We have a thoroughly trained team but we also know that we need help," the spokesperson of Florida Power and Light, Sarah Gatewood said. "We'll call in help and bring in those resources."With crews coming from all over the south, this site is used for more than just checking in and seeing where they're going."Also getting them through a safety briefing so that they know how we work to keep everybody safe and make sure they do the same because we want everyone to come home the same way they came here," Gatewood said.Florida Power and Light makes sure everyone knows their protocols and safety procedures so that there are no mishaps.Many of these crews are familiar with the protocols. They've done this time and time again."One that comes to mind is Ian, " Vice President of Operations at Blue Lake Service said. "That was devastating and we were on there, not only Ian but back-to-back Nicole was right behind it. We stayed on system the whole time with FPL."Blue Lake Service has been in a partnership with Florida Power and Light going on six years now.Buckels says their past experiences are beneficial when working a new storm."We'll be back in those same communities," Buckles said. "We already know the areas, we know the hotspots, the trouble spots, so it helps us also get the lines back on quicker."He says they've seen the devastation.They know many people are still trying to recover from the last storm as this one continues to barrel towards them."Looking at this one and seeing the storm surge that they could possibly encounter again, and a lot of those folks are still rebuilding at this moment," Buckles said. " Here they are having to deal with that again. Our hearts go out to them."Blue Lake alone is bringing more than 500 people as well as airboats and transmission crews to help.As these crews and trucks roll out, they're bringing a light to fight the darkness this storm could bring.Crews began rolling out at 8 a.m. heading to different areas in east, northeast, and south Florida.</div></body>

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Pensacola fairgrounds become staging area for storm relief efforts

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- While we may not experience direct impacts of Helene, Northwest Florida is playing a role in helping bring vital resources to the areas that will. The Pensacola fairgrounds serve as a Florida power and light processing site for crews making their way across the south to help storm-affected areas.