The latest: Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) continues to work safely and as quickly as possible to restore power as Debby moves across Florida after making landfall as a hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend region earlier today. As of 6 p.m., crews have restored power to 214,000 customers. Crews will continue to restore power night and day as long as it's safe to do so. Importantly, more outages are expected as Debby slowly churns through the region.
Why it matters: Debby’s threat to Florida is far from over, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall, life-threatening storm surge, significant flooding and tornadoes. Customers should be prepared for outages throughout parts of the state as the storm continues to move. As conditions allow, FPL will conduct critical damage assessments while restoring power safely and as quickly as possible. Crews will not stop until every customer has power.
By the numbers:
- 214,000 customers restored as of 6 p.m.
- Approximately 26,000 customers without power as of 6 p.m.
- 12 staging and parking sites.
- Smart grid technology has already avoided more than 34,000 outages.
What FPL is doing:
- FPL is actively restoring power and will continue to do so as conditions allow.
- At the same time, damage assessment teams provide visuals of the damage to get the right crews and the right equipment to the right places.
- FPL also has specialized crews to clear roads so lineworkers can gain access and restore service.
Restoration estimates: FPL understands customers want to know when power will be restored. The company is committed to providing the best estimates to customers as soon as this important information is available.
- Along the west coast, FPL expects to essentially complete restoration to customers impacted by Debby by the end of today, Aug. 5. In areas with flooding and heavy vegetation, restoration is expected to take longer as crews must wait for the water to recede and clear debris before they can restore power. Some customers with localized damage to their equipment may experience longer outages. Customers who remain without power can check the FPL Mobile App, visit FPL.com or call 800-4-OUTAGE.
- In North Florida, FPL will provide estimated restoration times once the storm has cleared the region and after damage assessments are performed. As the storm moves through the area, crews are restoring power to many areas where it is safe to do so.
- For the most up-to-date information, customers can check the FPL Mobile App, visit FPL.com or call 1-800-4-OUTAGE.
What customers should do after the storm:
- Safety is FPL’s top priority for its crews and customers. Even when winds subside, conditions can still be dangerous. Customers should continue to heed warnings from local emergency officials.
- Stay far away from downed power lines, flooding and debris; assume any downed line is energized and call 911 and 800-4-OUTAGE to report it.
- Keep roads clear for restoration workers.
- If customers must drive, they should use extreme caution. Power interruptions may cause traffic signals to stop working without warning. Florida law requires motorists to treat intersections with non-working traffic signals as a four-way stop.
- If using a portable generator, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper use. Never operate a generator inside your home or garage.
A word from FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel:
“FPL is actively responding to Debby’s impacts, and we will not stop until every customer is restored. We have a restoration workforce of thousands of dedicated men and women working around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible to get our customers’ lives back to normal. As we work through this restoration, we urge customers to remain vigilant and keep safety top of mind.”
How FPL communicates during a storm:
- FPL website: FPL.com
- X: X.com/insideFPL
- Facebook: facebook.com/FPLconnect
- FPL Power Tracker: FPL.com/powertracker
- FPL Power Tracker (Northwest Florida): FPL.com/mypowertracker
- FPL app: Download from the App Store or Google Play, or text the word “App” to MyFPL (69375)
How to reach us:
- 561-694-4442
- Media.relations@fpl.com
- @FPL_Newsroom
The National Hurricane Center has issued advisories for Potential Tropical Cyclone 4, as well as tropical storm warnings and watches for parts of Florida’s west coast. FPL is ready to respond and is assembling a restoration workforce, including employees, contractors and assistance from out of state.
Hurricane season begins June 1 and FPL is ready for a potentially active season. FPL encourages customers to prepare their homes and businesses as well.
FPL challenged its employees with a simulated hurricane during the company’s annual Storm Drill.