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Tag: 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season

SECO Energy Recovering After Hurricane Ian

SECO Energy is recovering after Hurricane Ian swept through most of its Central Florida service area. Crews worked overnight Thursday in the continued effort to restore electric service to all homes and businesses that are deemed safe to receive service.  

 

Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida as a Category 4 storm, slowly moved northeast across the state and exited as a tropical storm. Portions of Lake County, Sumter County and southwest Marion County sustained the most extensive damage in SECO Energy’s service area. As of 8 a.m. this morning, SECO has 112 active outages affecting just over 3,000 accounts with 2,968 of those located in Lake County.  

 

Across the service area, crews battled heavy rains and gusty winds. downed trees, flooded roads, or high-water areas.  At the Leesburg Airport KLEE weather station, wind gusts were measured at 56 mph with maximum sustained wind speeds of 39 mph, and 2.4 inches of rain.  

 

SECO Energy’s Ocala area returned to normal operations late Thursday night and the Sumterville area returned to normal operations early Friday morning. In the Groveland area, there are only five outages that require crews. In the Eustis area, there are four separate feeder outages (Paisley substation feeders 1 and 2, St. Johns substation feeder 1 and Mount Dora substation feeder 1). Crews are actively restoring these circuits today.  

 

The current National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast has Ian re-strengthening to a Category 1 hurricane and poised to make another landfall along the coast of South Carolina. As of 8 a.m. Friday, the storm has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and is moving north northeast at 9 mph. 

 

CEO Curtis Wynn assured members that the restoration effort is ongoing. Wynn stated, “Crews worked tirelessly overnight on both Wednesday and Thursday to restore service after Hurricane Ian traveled through SECO Energy’s service area. Keep in mind, the rain bands from Hurricane Ian’s rain bands only exited SECO’s service area mid-afternoon yesterday. Restoration was hampered by strong winds and heavy rains yesterday. We continue this morning and won’t stop working until the last member’s service is restored.” 

 

SECO’s Emergency Restoration Plan determines the system’s restoration priority of 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. 

 

SECO Energy has re-opened its five Member Service Centers on Friday as Hurricane Ian restoration is in its final stages. 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. 

 

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 how to prepare for before, during and after a storm. 

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter for prize drawings, news releases, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To see reliability and expansion projects 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. 

 

 

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StormCenter is SECO Energy’s outage reporting and communications platform that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online at www.SECOEnergy.com/StormCenter.

 

SECO Energy Preparing for Hurricane Ian

SECO Energy is preparing for the weather effects of Hurricane Ian as it looms closer to the Florida Peninsula. The hurricane is expected to strengthen to a major Category 4 hurricane and possibly make landfall near Tampa Bay early Thursday morning.

 

Hurricane Ian quickly increased in size and maximum wind speeds overnight. Based on the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast, this could be the strongest hurricane to impact SECO Energy’s service area in many years. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Hurricane Ian has maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and is moving north at 12 mph.

 

Forecast tracks are starting to align. The latest track for Hurricane Ian shows the storm traveling directly over SECO Energy’s Central Florida service area. Members who live in SECO’s area will begin to feel the effects of Hurricane Ian with wind gusts starting on Wednesday. The hurricane is forecast to stall over SECO’s area for most of Friday. SECO members should prepare for extended power outages due to this hurricane. SECO’s service territory will experience large amounts of rain, heavy winds, and the possibility of tornadoes and flash floods.

 

CEO Curtis Wynn urges members to prepare for Hurricane Ian. Wynn stated, “SECO Energy is watching Hurricane Ian closely and preparing for the impacts this hurricane will have on our service area. While SECO is StormReady and prepared to respond to power outages caused by Hurricane Ian, I urge members to prepare for the hurricane as well. This storm will likely impact SECO’s service area by the end of the week. Prepare your homes and families before the hurricane arrives, store your hurricane supplies in a dry place and continue to watch weather reports and follow the hurricane’s track.”

 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for all 67 Florida counties on Sunday, September 25. County Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Central Florida are monitoring Hurricane Ian’s impact. Schools are closing throughout Central Florida and shelters are opening. SECO members who require continuous electric service to power life-sustaining medical equipment should have a backup power source or relocate to a shelter. Once SECO Energy enacts its Emergency Response Plan, members should visit the cooperative’s Daily Restoration Plan Map to identify if crews are working in their area that day.

 

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.

 

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 how to prepare for before, during and after a storm.

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter 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.

 

SECO Energy Tracking Tropical Depression Nine

SECO Energy is tracking Tropical Depression Nine as it slowly moves on a westerly track toward the Florida Peninsula. Tropical Depression Nine (TD9) is expected to strengthen to a hurricane this weekend. The storm would be renamed Hurricane Hermine and could impact Central Florida as a Category 2 hurricane early next week.

 

TD9 was formerly known as Invest 98L. Meteorologists have watched the storm as it became more organized this week. TD9 is moving west-northwest at 13 mph with maximum sustained wind speeds of 35 mph. The latest National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast puts the storm in the Gulf of Mexico and moving across Central Florida early next week. TD9 is still far away from Florida, and models will continue to shift this weekend.

 

SECO Energy’s service territory could begin to feel the effects of Tropical Depression Nine as it strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane as early as Tuesday of next week. Category 2 hurricanes have maximum sustained wind speeds between 96 and 110 mph. If the storm arrives in SECO’s service area, members will experience widespread heavy rains and gusty winds. A soggy August and early September storms have left standing water in some areas. Additional rain and high winds can cause downed trees and power outages for members.

 

CEO Curtis Wynn assured members that SECO Energy is StormReady and ready to respond to power outages caused by tropical storms and hurricanes. Wynn stated, “SECO Energy is tracking Tropical Depression Nine and the possible weather effects that this system could bring to SECO’s service area. We are StormReady and prepared to respond to outages caused by tropical storms and hurricanes. I am asking members to prepare for the possibility that Tropical Depression Nine will strengthen and move toward our service territory. Now is the time to gather essential hurricane supplies. While we are nearing the end of Atlantic hurricane season and Tropical Depression Nine’s ultimate track remains uncertain, this reminds us to stay vigilant for late season storms.”

 

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.

 

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 how to prepare for before, during and after a storm.

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter 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.