Florida PSC Reinforces Hurricane Preparedness as 2025 Storm Season Begins

"As Florida continues to lead the nation in hurricane response and power restoration, the Commission remains focused on strengthening our training and preparedness to stay storm ready," said PSC Chairman Mike La Rosa. "In close collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners-as well as Florida's utility providers-we're committed to ensuring a swift, safe, and coordinated response that protects service reliability for all Floridians."

At its June 3 Internal Affairs meeting, PSC Commissioners received an overview of the Commission's Annual Hurricane Preparedness Workshop, held on May 13. Presentations from Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric, Florida Public Utilities Company, the City of Tallahassee, and the Florida Electric Cooperative Association can be found here.

Commissioners also heard from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Amy Godsey-Deputy Bureau Chief of Response, Operations Chief, and Chief State Meteorologist-provided a Concept of Operations briefing that outlined the state's strategic approach to storm response.

In 2024, Florida was under a federal disaster declaration for 59 days. During that time, the state experienced 18 distinct hazards and 10 emergency activations at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). The SEOC is home to the State Emergency Response Team, which is made up of subject matter experts organized into 20 Emergency Support Functions (ESF) designated to coordinate and provide resources during activations.

The PSC leads ESF 12: Energy at the SEOC, coordinating with electric and natural gas utilities to support the rapid and safe restoration of service to Floridians during hurricanes and other state emergencies.

To help Floridians prepare, the PSC has launched a new online hub-"Hurricane Season: What you need to know!" Accessible via the blue bar on the homepage of https://www.FloridaPSC.com, this resource offers key information on preparing before and after a storm, including outage reporting, generator safety, and repair responsibilities. It also features year-round tips like tree trimming near power lines, securing electrical equipment, and updating your hurricane supply kit. Additional links to state and federal emergency resources are also provided.

The PSC encourages all residents to develop a personal storm plan and to stay informed through their utility providers' websites, social media, and local emergency alerts.