FMEA Details Post-Hurricane Power Restoration Efforts, Deployment of Florida Public Power Utility Crews

Following Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall as a strong Category 2 hurricane over the Florida Panhandle Friday night, Florida public power utilities restored power to more than 38,000 public power customers within less than 24 hours, the Florida Municipal Electric Association reported on Oct. 11.

"Our Florida public power crews were called on to assist other utilities with power restoration efforts in affected areas, including Florida co-op electric utilities and out-of-state municipal electric utilities in Alabama. Enabled by our mutual aid agreements, eight Florida Municipal Electric Association members are assisting a Florida electric cooperative in Northwest Florida, and another five public power utilities have assisted with power restoration efforts in six Alabama cities," said Amy Zubaly, Executive Director of FMEA.

FMEA represents the unified interests of 33 public power communities across the state, which provide electricity to more than 4 million of Florida’s residential and business consumers.

Florida public power utility Kissimmee Utility Authority reported that its crews deployed to DeFuniak Springs, Florida, on Oct. 10 to assist with restoring power in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias. The crews departed Kissimmee just after 1 p.m.

As part of KUA’s mutual-aid agreement with utilities across the nation, the utility sent 12 linemen, a mechanic, and a convoy of vehicles to the Florida Panhandle to assist Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative Inc. (CHELCO) with restoring power to an estimated 68,900 customers, which is approximately 90% of their system.

The crews who traveled from KUA include: Dustin Kelly, Mike Taylor, Josias Cabrera, Cory Breen, Kyle Castleton, Tyler Mook, Kyle Bezold, Alberto Gutierrez, Yonny Vasco, Lantz Trisler, Jamie Boswell, Robert Diaz, and Zachariah Sirrell.

Along with KUA, FMEA reported the following Florida public power utility crews were deployed as follows: