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Tag: 2004 hurricanes

SECO Energy Prepping for Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton October 7, 2024 10 a.m. CDT
Hurricane Milton October 7, 2024 10 a.m. CDT

SECO Energy is closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Milton and preparing to respond swiftly and safely to any potential power outages that may arise from the hurricane’s impact. 

 

Hurricane Milton is strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico and traveling toward the Florida Peninsula. Afternoon reports indicate that Milton has strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane. According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane Wednesday evening into Thursday morning near Tampa Bay.  

 

SECO Energy crews have returned from providing mutual aid to other cooperatives in Florida and Georgia affected by Hurricane Helene and are preparing for Hurricane Milton. Crews are fueling trucks and prepping with essential supplies and materials to prepare for possible outages. SECO Energy has a dedicated team assigned to monitor the power system and weather on a daily, 24-hour basis. All other departments, including SECO Energy’s Member Services Center, are on high alert and ready to respond to the needs of our members. 

 

SECO Energy urges members to TAKE ACTION NOW to make the necessary preparations to remain safe and comfortable in the event of an extended outage.  

 

YOU CAN PREPARE: 

  • Assemble an emergency kit. It should include at least a three-day supply of water, non-perishable food, medication, first aid supplies, a flashlight, a weather radio, and extra batteries. Include a list of emergency contacts. 
  • Charge your cell phone and have external backup power sources charged.  
  • Develop an evacuation plan in case it’s needed. Communicate the plan to your family. Include pets or livestock in your plan.  
  • Secure outdoor items. Safely store lawn furniture, decorations, toys, garbage cans, and other items that can be brought indoors.  
  • Close windows and doors. 
  • Fuel up. Fill up your vehicles before the storm, as a loss of power could affect gas stations. 
  • Consider having supplies handy for your propane or charcoal grill. Be sure to grill outdoors in well-ventilated areas for safety.  
  • If you or a loved one depend on electric-powered medical equipment and do not have a power backup system, consider relocating. 
  • If you operate a standby generator after a storm, follow the owner’s manual instructions and safety recommendations carefully. 

 

StormCenter is SECO Energy’s outage and communications platform for members to view the outage map, report outages, check the status of an existing outage, report an area light malfunction, and enroll in outage communications and alerts via email, text, voice, or all three. Bookmark on your smartphone or tablet to report outages quickly and easily by going to SECOEnergy.com> StormCenter. 

 

As a reminder, if heavy rains and strong winds lead to downed lines, stay away! Contact with downed lines can be dangerous, even deadly. Report downed power lines to SECO Energy at (800) 732-6141 or call 911 immediately.  

 

SECO Energy’s Hurricane Handbook includes generator safety tips and guidance on what to do before, during, and after a storm. It can be found by visiting SECO Energy.com> Safety> Hurricane Handbook. 

Nature’s Reflections – Hurricanes & Wildlife

Where do animals go in a hurricane?

 

Florida’s wildlife is well adapted to the state’s weather extremes. Their early warning system lies in the ability to sense any change in the barometric pressure and move to safer locations. Members of the animal kingdom seem to find places to hide from a storm’s wrath.

 

Water birds and shorebirds move inland during storms. Many birds will fly to the outer edge of a storm and find a safe place to hunker down – sometimes hundreds of miles away. Birds have the ability to tighten their grip and hold on during high winds, just as they do when sleeping. Cavity nesters, like woodpeckers will often ride out the storm in the tree. Many species of wildlife know the areas of the forest where they will be best protected from the worst winds. Chicks in a twig or ground nest are at the highest risk for injury.

 

Natural disaster disrupts and affects everything in its path, including wildlife. Livestock and pets are not always able to get out of harm’s way on their own. A sad fact is that there is usually some loss to wildlife and habitat as a result of severe storms. The good news is that wildlife in general is amazingly resilient.

 

While we can never place animal life above human life, it is important to be sensitive to the needs of both wildlife and domestic animals as much as we can before and after a natural disaster.

 

Nature's Reflections - Hurricanes & Wildlife, Disaster disrupts and affects everything in its path, including wildlife

 

Following the 2004 hurricanes, FEMA brought in veterinarians from other states to help rescue and treat the thousands of domestic animals that resided in the Florida counties that were declared federal disaster areas.

 

The Humane Society collected pets found disoriented and wandering aimlessly and gave them food and shelter until the rightful owners could be found. Those unclaimed pets were later offered for adoption.

 

Volunteers from area wildlife rehab centers were busy with rescue and treatment of injured, displaced and orphaned animals following the hurricanes. Biologists from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) monitored the impact to wildlife for weeks following the storms. Research shows that most of Florida’s ecosystems and wildlife populations recover, or adapt, quickly after even the severest storms.

 

Column & photos by Sandi Staton – sandi.staton@gmail.com

 

Read the full Nature’s Reflections article in the July 2017 SECO News here.