Florida Public Power Mutual Aid Crews to Assist with Power Restoration Following Hurricane Ida

The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) has assembled public power crews from across the state to aid with power restoration efforts in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida, which is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane this Sunday.

Nearly 85 personnel from seven Florida public power utilities will arrive in Louisiana through Monday to assist affected communities. Mutual aid crews from the City of Tallahassee will deploy Saturday to arrive in Lafayette, Louisiana, Sunday morning before the storm to assist fellow public power utility Lafayette Utility Systems. Additional mutual assistance line crews and other field personnel from JEA in Jacksonville, Orlando Utilities Commission, Kissimmee Utility Authority and Lakeland Electric will arrive in Lafayette on Monday to restore power to those in need. The Utilities Commission, City of New Smyrna Beach and Fort Pierce Utilities Authority both are sending mutual aid crews to assist utilities personnel in the City of Plaquemine, Louisiana. The Florida public power utility teams will deploy on Sunday to arrive in Plaquemine Monday to begin restoring power once the storm passes.

“Yesterday was Florida Lineworker Appreciation Day and we couldn’t be more thankful for the public power lineworkers and crew members who leave behind the comforts of home and their own families to help restore power in other communities that are impacted by such major natural disasters,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “Florida has many times been the recipient of mutual aid assistance when we have faced down hurricanes and other severe storms. It is always a great honor to return the favor.”

Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Public power utilities across the country benefit from the strong network of mutual assistance partners through the American Public Power Association. These dependable connections have created a reliable system where member utilities both request and offer assistance when in need. FMEA is proud to serve as the mutual aid coordinator for Florida’s 33 public power utilities.