Credit: PECO
As Hurricane Milton nears landfall, PECO has deployed a team of 40 employees to Florida.
The utility company told NewtownPANow.com the crews are being deployed to bolster efforts to restore power in anticipation of widespread damage.
Set to strike early Thursday, Hurricane Milton is predicted by the National Hurricane Center to be a “large and extremely dangerous” storm as it approaches Florida’s west coast. It threatens to bring hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surges, and potential flooding to areas still reeling from recent hurricanes Helene, Debby, and Idalia.
PECO’s contingent includes lineworkers, fleet specialists, and safety personnel.
PECO officials said their workers will assist Tampa Electric in the recovery efforts.
The support mirrors the company’s recent aid in Georgia after Hurricane Helene as part of mutual assistance agreements used by utility companies during natural disasters.
“Mutual assistance allows for the sharing of resources such as labor and equipment during emergencies. Securing additional field resources from neighboring utility companies is an essential component of the power utility industry’s restoration strategy,” PECO said in a statement.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mobilized federal crews to work with Florida authorities ahead of the storm.
Federal and local officials remain operational in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia as they respond to and recover from Hurricane Helene, including more than 7,400 federal workers of which 1,500 are FEMA staff. FEMA officials have said they will not divert personnel or resources from the ongoing responses.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro deployed search and rescue teams, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) officials, Pennsylvania National Guard crews, and members of the state Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to assist in North Carolina.
Whether or hurricane or other disaster, FEMA encourages Americans to prepare emergency kits for their homes.
To assemble a kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. Some items in a kit may include:
- Water – at least one gallon per person, per day, for at least three days.
- Non-perishable food. Make sure to include a can opener in your kit.
- Battery powered or a hand crank radio.
- Flashlight for every family member.
- Extra batteries.
- First aid kit.
- Wrench or pliers.
- Cell phone with chargers and backup battery.
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