SECO Energy Preparing for Hurricane Dorian
SECO Energy is watching Hurricane Dorian’s progress as it makes its way closer to a Florida landfall. Dorian traveled over Puerto Rico on Wednesday and quickly accelerated from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane. Forecasters predict the hurricane will make landfall as a CAT 3 or higher hurricane.
SECO Energy is watching the progress of Hurricane Dorian as it makes its way closer to a Florida landfall. Forecasters predict that Dorian will make landfall as a CAT 3 or higher hurricane. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Dorian’s current sustained wind speeds are 85 mph and the system continues to move northwest at 13 mph. Overnight Hurricane Dorian’s center became defined and the environment is favorable for significant strengthening. Models are trending slower and landfall predictions are mixed.
With a landfall between Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach between Monday night and Tuesday morning predicted as a CAT 3 or higher, SECO’s service area will begin experiencing tropical storm force winds Sunday night or Monday morning dependent on the speed of the storm. The likelihood of the storm impacting SECO Energy’s service territory is high.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28. County Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter County are monitoring Hurricane Dorian’s impact as well. Sandbag locations have been established in Lake and Marion County. Sumter County advises it will likely begin opening shelters on Saturday.
CEO Jim Duncan assures members that SECO Energy is prepared for Hurricane Dorian. Duncan stated, “We are closely monitoring Hurricane Dorian’s probable track and how it will affect our service territory. SECO is concerned that Hurricane Dorian will travel directly through our area as a major Category 2 or 3 hurricane. Pick up supplies before shelves are empty. Continue to watch Dorian’s track and prepare for the distinct possibility that you will lose power when Dorian enters Central Florida.”
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 on your smartphone or tablet to report outages quickly and easily.
SECO has designed a new Hurricane Handbook to help members prepare before, during and after a storm. The Hurricane Handbook is available online.
Stay up to date on weather affecting SECO Energy’s service area, the latest news releases and cooperative updates by “liking” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter.
