FPL - Florida Power & Light Company

10/12/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/12/2024 14:55

FPL accelerates its 90% restoration target to Sunday as crews continue to work around the clock after Hurricane Milton

The latest: Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has restored power to more than 82% of customers impacted by Hurricane Milton. With this substantial progress, FPL has moved up its target of restoring 90% of affected customers to Sunday night rather than its previous target of 90% by Monday night. Crews are contending with flooding, downed trees and debris from tornadoes as they complete a second full day of restoration in the wake of the Category 3 storm.

Keep in mind: Customers may not see the damage causing their outages or the crews working to restore their power, but rest assured FPL is working around the clock to get the lights back on. If you see an FPL truck passing but not stopping, it may be because work must be performed at a nearby location before electric service can be restored to your home.

By the numbers as of 5 p.m.:

  • Nearly 1.7 million customers already restored (more than 82% of those affected).
  • About 355,000 customers without power.
  • 440,000 outages avoided by smart grid technology.
  • Restoration workforce of 20,000 men and women from 41 states and Canada.
  • 26 staging, processing and parking sites.

Restoration update: FPL appreciates the importance to customers of knowing when power will be restored. Here are the best estimates for restoration:

Click here to view a map of estimated restoration times.

FPL Estimated Time of Restoration (as of 5 p.m.)

Status

County

Essentially Restored*

Baker, Bradford, Broward, Clay, Columbia, Glades, Hendry, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Palm Beach, St. Johns, Suwannee

95% by end of day,
Sunday, Oct. 13*

Brevard, DeSoto, Martin, Putnam

95% by end of day,
Monday, Oct. 14*

St. Lucie

95% by end of day,
Tuesday, Oct. 15*

Charlotte, Collier, Flagler, Indian River, Lee, Okeechobee, Seminole, Volusia

95% by end of day,
Wednesday, Oct. 16*

Manatee, Sarasota

*Except those who cannot safely accept service or are located in heavily flooded areas or have experienced extensive tornado damage or storm surge.

Some homes and businesses may have suffered damage that makes them unable to safely accept power. Customers who notice damage need to contact a licensed electrician prior to power being restored.

A word from FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel: "We're working around the clock, and we're making great progress to get life back to normal for our customers and communities. There are significant challenges, particularly in areas that took a direct hit from Hurricane Milton. Our workforce of 20,000 men and women will not stop working until every customer has power."

Restoration challenges: Hurricane Milton was a powerful storm that had significant impacts across most of Florida.

  • Across the state, communities are dealing with the triple impact of Hurricane Helene, torrential prolonged rainfall and now Milton.
  • The west coast was hit with storm surge and flooding, which closed roads and left many areas inaccessible to crews, delaying damage assessments and restoration efforts. Powerful tornadoes and significant debris also caused substantial damage.
  • The east coast was slammed by several dozen tornadoes that devastated parts of the Treasure Coast. The National Weather Service recorded 38 reports of tornadoes with that number expected to grow. These tornadoes, which were unusually powerful compared to tornadoes typically seen in hurricanes, ripped through communities, causing significant damage and leaving tens of thousands without power.

What customers should do after the storm:

  • Safety is FPL's top priority for its crews and customers. Customers should continue to heed warnings from local emergency officials.
  • Use extreme caution while driving. Power interruptions may cause traffic signals to stop working without warning. If you come to an intersection with a non-working traffic signal, Florida law requires that you treat it as a four-way stop.
  • If you are using a portable generator, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper use. Never operate a generator inside your home or garage.
  • Stay far away from downed power lines, flooding and debris; assume that lines are energized.
  • If customers have an emergency, call 911.
  • Customers can report a downed power line or sparking electrical equipment to FPL by calling 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243).

How customers can stay connected: FPL communicates restoration information to customers frequently through the news media and the following resources:

Visuals to download:

How to reach us:

Additional resources: