2,400 Workers from Florida Power & Light Return Home After Helping Recovery Efforts from Hurricane Sally
By Space Coast Daily // September 23, 2020
worked 16-hour days in challenging conditions
JUNO BEACH, FLORIDA – Florida Power & Light Company’s workforce of more than 2,400 FPL lineworkers, contractors and support personnel began returning home after assisting our sister utility, Gulf Power, in their effort to help restore power after Hurricane Sally.
FPL’s dedicated men and women worked 16-hour days in challenging conditions alongside their Gulf Power counterparts and a total workforce of 7,000 from 24 states to repair the energy grid in Florida’s Panhandle after it was damaged by the Category 2 hurricane.
Hurricane Sally marks the third time this year that FPL employees and contractors have assisted in restoring power to areas devastated by hurricanes.
“The power of Mother Nature and the damage it caused this year during what may be an unprecedented hurricane season has been very humbling,” said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy.
“August and September have been busy months for our team as they have traveled great distances to help our fellow Americans in need. This latest mutual assistance effort took them to Florida’s Panhandle to support our sister utility, Gulf Power. I couldn’t be more proud of how our men and women worked hand-in-hand with Gulf Power’s team and other lineworkers to help rebuild the lives of so many. We know how important it is to get the lights on for our fellow Floridians, especially during these challenging times.”
Before making the decision to send help, FPL made sure its customers are taken care of and that no other storms are on the immediate horizon.
Providing mutual assistance after natural disasters is a hallmark of the energy industry.
In the past, FPL has provided assistance to areas impacted by major weather events, including last month’s deployment of approximately 600 FPL employees and contractors to central New Jersey after Hurricane Isaias.
Earlier this month, FPL’s workforce of more than 1,300 employees and contractors returned to Florida from Louisiana after rebuilding the energy grid damaged by Hurricane Laura.
In addition to sending workers to help other utilities, FPL sent nearly 180 semi-tractor trailers to Lake Charles, La. loaded with poles and equipment to help rebuild critical parts of the transmission grid, which is essential to bringing power to communities.
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