Hurricane Matthew Forecast to Hit Florida as Cat 4
Per the National Hurricane Center’s 8 am forecast, Hurricane Matthew is moving northwest at 12 mph. On this track, Matthew crosses the Bahamas today and approaches Florida’s east coast tonight, strengthening to a category 4 hurricane – which means winds of 130 to 156 mph.
The forecasted path of Matthew remains parallel to Florida’s east coast – but models are mixed as to how close the eye will come to Florida’s shores and where it will head after it passes the state. It is certain that Central Florida residents east of I-75 will experience rain and tropical-storm-force winds.
Poles and lines will go down, and power outages will likely be widespread. Because crews are unable to work safely or raise bucket truck booms in winds over 35 mph, outages will be long in duration if crews cannot respond to outages until winds subside and the storm passes.
SECO encourages its members to report outages using smartphones or tablets at the Storm Center application on our website. It’s easy to report with the last name and house number. Members can contact SECO via Facebook and Twitter and read outage details.
For members less tech savvy, call and talk to a member service rep (or use the prompts to report the outage by phone at 800 732 6141. SECO’s System Operations Center is manned 24/7, and our call centers are also manned 24/7 when severe weather comes through – as will be the case as Hurricane Matthew approaches. Also report downed power lines – call 911 if there is immediate danger.
SECO is Storm Ready. Its emergency response plan determines the restoration priority of each feeder. Essential services like shelters, hospitals, schools and government agencies are the highest priority. Next, linemen work to restore power to large groups of members. Then repairs begin on individual services in less populated areas. All day today, additional line crews and tree trimming contractors are arriving at SECO to be staged for the restoration effort.
Members who need continuous power for medical devices and do not have a back-up source of power must act now. Shelters are open in the SECO area. Contact your county’s emergency operations center (EOC) to find shelter in your area – do not wait.
- Sumter County 352-689-4400 or visit their website for more information.
- Lake County 352-343-9420 or visit their website for more information.
- Marion County Citizen’s Info line is open 352-369-7500 or visit their website for more information.
- Citrus County 352-527-2106 or 352-746-5470 or visit their website or more information.
- Levy County 352-486-5213 or visit their website for more information.
- Hernando County 352-754-4083 or 352-754-4111 or visit their website for more information.
- Pasco County 727-847-8137 or visit their website for more information.
As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being members’ first source for accurate storm information.
