Public power utility crews traveled to Louisiana to pre-position to help with power restoration efforts as Hurricane Francine continued on a path to the state’s coastline.
The center of Francine was projected to pass through southeastern Louisiana the night of Sept. 11.
The Florida Municipal Electric Association "has assembled public power crews from across the state to aid with power restoration efforts following impacts from Hurricane Francine, which is anticipated to make landfall later today," said Amy Zubaly, Executive Director, FMEA, on Sept. 11.
"Nearly 80 public power personnel from seven Florida public power utilities have deployed to Louisiana to restore power to impacted communities. Crews from the City of Tallahassee Electric Utility and Gainesville Regional Utilities are supporting Lafayette Utilities System in their restoration efforts. Beaches Energy Services, Ocala Electric Utility, and Orlando Utilities Commission crews are heading to provide mutual aid assistance to the City of Houma, Louisiana, while Fort Pierce Utilities Authority and New Smyrna Beach Utilities are en route to the City of Morgan City, Louisiana," she said.
"Additional personnel from Florida public power utilities are standing by to assist wherever there is a need. Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Mutual aid can extend beyond fellow public power utilities to both rural electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities," she noted.
"As communities across Louisiana and the Gulf coast brace for the impacts of Hurricane Francine, FMEA and Florida’s public power utilities are keeping everyone in the affected area in our thoughts. Please stay safe throughout the storm," Zubaly said.
Florida public power utility OUC reported on Sept. 11 that a 17-member crew of OUC line technicians and a fleet mechanic were en route to Louisiana. The crew will assist Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government with restoration efforts following Hurricane Francine.
On Sept. 10, the Florida Municipal Electric Association said that crews from the City of Tallahassee Electric Utility and Gainesville Regional Utilities in Florida were en route to support Lafayette Utilities System in restoration efforts following the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Francine.
Other public power utilities that have deployed to Louisiana are:
- Calhoun (Georgia)
- Newnan (Georgia)
- Marietta (Georgia)
- Electric Cities of Georgia
- MPUA (RSC, Missouri)
- MPUA (Hannibal, Missouri)
- MPUA (Carthage, Missouri)
- GRDA (Oklahoma)
In a Sept. 11 post on the X social media platform, Louisiana public power utility Lafayette Utilities System said that it and mutual aid crews “are working together to be able to respond quickly and safely.”
