With hurricane season quickly approaching, we want to make sure that you are prepared. June 1st is the official start of hurricane season and predicted to be near normal, with nine to 15 named storms, including four to eight hurricanes with two to four of those hurricanes expected to grow to Category 3 or stronger.

As we all know too well, there's no way to hurricane proof an electrical system. But as linemen and arborists continue to service devastated areas, here are some things to keep in mind should a weather emergency head your way.

  • While others evacuate, lineman head straight toward the storm ensuring they are stationed and ready for emergency outages to speed up the restoration process. As first responders, be prepared with additional food and water supplies in the event your truck is stranded or otherwise incapacitated. Logistics support and even laymen can assist by providing shelter and meals for those in the line of duty.
  • Prestaging activities such as prepping vehicles, going through inventory and checking equipment are vital to an efficient crew. There is often a mad dash to get to the scene of a storm, but taking the extra time to ensure you are prepared may save your life.
  • Out of state linemen and tree trimming crews arrive to help support local teams. This influx of population to an already distressed community can put a strain on local resources. Out of state crews should be prepared to lend a hand wherever needed and have tools on hand to get the job done.
  • Make room for arborists preemptively cutting limbs away from power lines. This better allows lineman and contractors to assess the damages and structural integrity throughout the system which ultimately helps with outage restoration.

When Irma was barreling down on the U.S., Florida Power & Light had three million gallons of extra fuel, 13,000 transformers, 25,000 poles and 15,000 miles of wire on hand to fix potential outages. You can at the very least ensure your belt is stocked!

Check back on our website and social media pages for tips and tools to keep you prepared.

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