Florida Power & Light (FPL) downgraded its forecast for the restoration of electrical service on Monday, October 12, from 95% to 85%, after determining that the damage caused by Hurricane Isaías in northwest Florida was more severe than initially estimated.
The company announced that the most affected areas of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will have to wait until Tuesday, October 13th to restore power, as crews continue to repair electrical lines and poles damaged by fallen trees.
According to the updated FPL statement from Sunday, October 11, more than 70% of the 435,000 customers who experienced outages due to the hurricane had regained electricity by 10:00 PM Central Time.
When will electricity be restored in each county?
The company established a new recovery schedule that differentiates between the counties where service has nearly been restored and those where the damages require more complex repairs.
In Bay, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, and Walton, FPL reported that it had restored almost all service by Sunday, October 11, with the exception of properties that cannot receive electricity safely due to damage to their own facilities.
In Okaloosa, the company expects to complete almost all reconnections before the end of Monday, October 12.
In Escambia and Santa Rosa, most affected customers should have their electricity restored by Monday. However, the areas with the most damage in these two counties now have an estimated restoration date of Tuesday, October 13.
FPL also expects that all schools, hospitals, and other critical facilities affected will have power restored by the end of Monday.
Why did FPL change its forecast from 95% to 85%?
The company explained that the inspections conducted after the passage of Isaías revealed more extensive damage than initially detected, especially in areas where large trees fell on the distribution lines.
Scott Bores, president and CEO of FPL, acknowledged that the damage caused by vegetation was much more severe and widespread than anticipated. Crews also found broken or leaning utility poles that require more complex interventions.
These issues necessitated a revision of the original schedule, which aimed to restore service for 95% of affected customers by the end of Monday. The new forecast of 85% pertains exclusively to the FPL customers impacted by Isaias, not to the overall electric users in the state of Florida.
The company has nearly 17,000 workers deployed from 29 states. In addition to repair work, it uses drones and helicopters to inspect damaged infrastructure and identify areas that require intervention.
What to do if you still don't have electricity
Customers who remain without service can check the FPL Power Tracker, which provides information on outages and recovery estimates. The company warns that these timelines may change if additional damage is discovered during repairs.
FPL maintains 15 assistance points for affected customers in the region, where water and ice are distributed and information related to electrical recovery is provided.
Some homes and businesses may remain without electricity even after the distribution network has been repaired. This occurs when their individual electrical systems have been damaged and need to be repaired before the company can safely reconnect them.
Clients who meet the requirements can apply for financial assistance through the Care to Share program to cover certain expenses for repairing electrical equipment necessary to receive the service. Information is available at FPL.com/assistance.
The company also recommends staying away from fallen electrical cables, flooded areas, and debris. In dangerous situations, such as downed lines or electrical equipment that produce sparks, residents should call 911 or contact FPL at 1-800-468-8243.
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