SECO Energy Crews Work Overnight Through Hurricane Debby
SECO Energy experienced widespread outages overnight, leaving over 10,000 accounts without power across Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter counties as Hurricane Debby moved through the Gulf of Mexico. SECO Energy is calling in outside contractors and fellow cooperative personnel to assist in restoration from Hurricane Debby.
SECO Energy crews worked overnight Sunday to restore electric service to homes and businesses that lost power but were forced to temporarily delay restoration efforts due to high winds as formerly Tropical Storm Debby strengthened to hurricane status. It is unsafe to raise truck buckets in winds higher than 35 mph. Fortunately, restoration work has now resumed with subsiding winds.
The eyewall of Hurricane Debby made landfall early this morning in the Big Bend area near Steinhatchee as a Category 1 storm. As of 5 a.m. Monday, Hurricane Debby had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and is moving north-northeast at 10 mph. SECO crews are still battling tropical wind conditions, flooding, and high-water areas. The NHC forecast indicates rain and gusty winds will continue in SECO’s service area for most of Monday and into Tuesday. The possibility of tornadoes and flash floods continues. The current National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast predicts Debby will rapidly weaken as it moves inland across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia later today through Tuesday.
CEO Curtis Wynn encourages members to practice safety as Hurricane Debby linger. Wynn stated, “During storms and power outages, it’s crucial to exercise extreme caution around downed power lines and trees in our area. Always treat any fallen line as if it’s energized and dangerous. To keep your family safe, ensure children stay indoors and away from potential hazards. If you’re without power and decide to use a generator, follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines. If you experience a medical emergency or other life-threatening hazard, call 911 right away.”
SECO’s Emergency Restoration Plan determines the system’s restoration priority for each affected feeder. Essential services such as hospitals, shelters, schools, and government agencies are the highest priority. Line repairs that will restore power to large groups of members are next, feeders that serve large commercial services and then individual electric services in less populated areas.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for 54 Florida counties on Thursday, August 1, and added seven additional counties on Friday, August 2. County Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Central Florida are monitoring Hurricane Debby’s impact. For a list of shelters, including general, pet-friendly, and special needs, visit FloridaDisaster.org. SECO members who require continuous electric service to power life-sustaining medical equipment should have a backup power source or relocate to a shelter. Special needs shelters are open in every county SECO serves.
StormCenter is SECO Energy’s outage and communications platform for members to report outages, check the status of an existing outage, and enroll in outage communications and alerts via email, text, voice, or all three. Visit StormCenter today and bookmark it on your smartphone or tablet to report outages quickly and easily.
Major weather events can cause extended power outages. SECO Energy reminds members to follow safety protocols when using a generator during a power outage. Generators emit deadly carbon monoxide (CO) that is odorless and colorless. Thousands of people die each year from CO poisoning. Never operate a generator in an enclosed space, including a garage. Always place the generator at least 15 to 20 feet away from your home and never near open windows.
Before operating a generator, thoroughly read and review the owner’s manual. Never plug a generator directly into an electrical outlet. This current flow is deadly for utility personnel. Keep children away from an operating generator and store fuel in approved containers. Do not smoke while fueling a generator. Always operate a generator in a dry space. If it is raining, use a canopy or cover. SECO Energy’s Hurricane Handbook includes generator safety tips and instructions on preparing before, during, and after a storm.
“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on X for prize drawings, news releases, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To see when SECO Energy crews/contractors are working in your area, visit our new System Improvement map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit SECOEnergy.com>Your Co-op>About.
