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SECO Buys Marion County Students’ Swine and Steer

Last week, Kathy Judkins, SECO Energy’s Deputy Director for Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs, purchased one steer and three swine at the Marion County Southeastern Youth Fair at the Ocala Live Stock Pavilion.

 

Each year, hundreds of students glean from the exposure they’ve received from participating in the youth fair. They learn how to care for their animals which is very evident when they step into the auction’s area seeking the highest bid from buyers. Besides seeking the highest bid, the students gain something greater – work ethic, finance and business management skills.

 

As a buyer representing SECO, Judkins purchased a steer from Riley Thoresen, a junior at Belleview High School, who showed a steer for Wild n’ Country 4-H Club that weighed in at 937 pounds. Riley plans to use her profits from the sale to continue saving for college where she hopes to become a behavioral analyst.

 

Later in the week, Judkins purchased two pigs from Dunnellon High School Future Farmers of America (FFA). Christen Adams’ pig weighed 252 pounds and Barry Duncan’s pig weighed 225 pounds. A third pig was purchased from Cassidy Clarke, a SECO member and a senior at Belleview High School, who showed a 236-pound pig for the Wild n’ Country 4-H Club. Fighting back tears, Clarke stated, “I’ve been showing pigs for twelve consecutive years, and I’m going to miss it. This year’s swine auction will help me with my college funding. My love for animals will continue because I’ve been accepted into Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in Tifton Georgia where I plan to major in Pre-Professional Biology and then transfer to a Veterinary Science Program.”

 

Judkins stated, “The youth fair gives students an introduction to agriculture and animals that they may never receive otherwise. For decades, SECO continues to be a proud supporter of the students in rural agriculture programs. From an educational standpoint, these students are learning valuable skills that will prepare them for remarkable careers.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO’s participation in youth livestock programs in the counties we serve also helps the cooperative identify and encourage students whose homes are served by SECO to apply for the scholarship program. This year, SECO will award twelve $3,000 scholarships to high school seniors enrolling in a Florida institute of higher learning. Academic achievement, financial need and other factors are considered by the judges, but participation in 4-H or FFA gives students added points. I encourage these students to visit our website and apply today because the submission deadline is March 30.”

 

Visit our Community page to learn more about SECO’s community outreach programs. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Sunshine State Stats, January 2018

January 2018 was much colder than January 2017. The average low temp for January 2018 was a chilly 46 degrees. The average high this year was only 56 degrees – last year at the same time the average high was 64 degrees. Central Florida residents experienced ten days of lows in the 30s and one day in the 20s, when snow flurries were reported at the Leesburg Airport!

 

Sunshine State Expanded stats January 2018

SECO’s residential members consumed, on average, 30 percent more energy in January this year than last year. If your bill for your January usage is 30 percent higher, that’s expected and normal given the cold weather. Heating costs can vary widely depending on your home’s type of heat unit. If your thermostat does not have an “emergency heat” setting, then you likely have electric resistance heat (also known as heat strips). This type of heating costs up to five times more to operate than a heat pump or conventional air conditioning unit.

 

Even if you didn’t raise your thermostat settings in January, your heating unit ran more frequently to maintain your home’s temperature. This is why it’s important to have your unit serviced annually by a qualified technician.

 

If your electric bill for your January usage is more than 50 percent higher than last year’s, please contact us using the form online. We can arrange for an Energy Services Specialist to visit your home and conduct a high usage investigation. This service is free to SECO members.

 

There were 292 heating degree days for January 2018, while last year there were only 116 heating degree days (HDDS). Degree Days are based on how much warmer or cooler the average temperature at a particular location is than 65°F. With nearly three times as many HDDs in January, your heating units will run more frequently to maintain your temperature setting.

 

Rainfall for January of 2018 was 3.68 inches compared to last January at 3.10 inches. February 2018 is forecast to be similar to last year but wetter than 2017. Visit our website for more information on SECO Energy’s products and services!

Nature’s Reflections – Florida’s Cabbage Palm

Many uses and the heart is considered a delicacy

The cabbage palm (sabal palmetto) was designated the Florida state tree in 1953 thanks to the Federation of Garden Clubs, who convinced the legislature that this palm was representative of all of Florida. The sabal palm, commonly called a “cabbage palm” is the most commonly found palm throughout the state.

 

One reason for its selection was its history. Early Floridians found a variety of uses for the sabal palm. The leaf bud of the tree provided food, the fibrous trunk was used for shelter materials and the fronds were used for thatched roofs. In fact, Seminole Indians are well known for constructing “Chickee huts” with thatched roofs made from the palm fronds. Chickee is the Seminole word for house, traditionally constructed using cypress logs and thatch leaves woven together with vines or thin ropes.

 

The leaf bud portion at the tree top is considered a delicacy by many. It is often sold in local restaurants under the name “heart of palm” or “swamp cabbage.”

January 2018 Cabbage Palm Nature's Reflections

 

Additionally, the tree provides food for wildlife. Florida’s black bears enjoy eating the heart of the palm, while the cabbage palm’s fruit, black colored berries, are eaten by gray foxes, squirrels and raccoons. Birds watch for the fruit to reach that “just right” ripened stage for eating. And, butterflies drink their fill of nectar when the small white flowers appear in early summer.

 

Cabbage palms provide shelter for fox squirrels, raccoons, frogs, lizards and insects. The palm thatch is used in nest building. Cavity nesters, such as flickers and red-bellied woodpeckers carve out homes in its trunk while others hide their nests among the fronds.

 

These prolific native palms with their fan-shaped fronds are widely used in landscaping. They are an erect tree that grows to a height of about 65 feet. Found throughout Florida, they are very adaptable to wet or dry conditions and transplant easily during any season of the year, although the warm, rainy summer months are best. It is a tree that weathers Florida’s seasons well.

 

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

 

Read the full Nature’s Reflections article in the January 2018 SECO News.

 

SECO News, October 2017

 

Duncan’s Digest

HURRICANE IRMA HITS HARD

 

Hurricane Irma is indeed the biggest, baddest, meanest named storm we’ve seen in a long time. Irma’s damage to our system was more significant than we experienced in the infamous 2004 hurricane season.

 

Hurricane Irma – the aptly named “war goddess” – arrived with an arsenal of hurricane-force winds. She wreaked havoc as she traveled directly through SECO’s service territory as a Category 1 to a Category 3 hurricane, per data from the National Hurricane Center. Power outages began late Sunday evening September 10, and members continued to lose power through Monday morning.

 

SECO News, October 2017 - Duncan's Digest , Hurricane Irma Hits Hard

 

From Irma’s onset until winds subsided Monday mid-day, approximately 139,000 outages were reported by members and captured by our outage management system. Over half of our system was damaged by the hurricane-force winds with lines, transformers and poles on the ground covered by trees and debris.

 

Executing an emergency action plan before, during and after a named storm is a standard practice for a Florida utility like SECO Energy. Storm hardening and emergency response are key investments for a not-for-profit electric cooperative. To successfully react to a weather crisis, we rely heavily on our tried and true emergency response plan and advanced preparation.

 

Members always want to know how SECO decides who is first in line for restoration. Florida requires substations and feeders serving hospitals, shelters, schools and government agencies to be restored as the highest priority. The next priority is restoring power to large groups of members, and then to less populated areas with individual electric services.

 

SECO News, October 2017 - Hurricane Irma Hits Hard, downed power lines, linemen working, damaged poles

 

Due to SECO’s demographic, we serve a large number of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. During Hurricane Irma, these facilities became a priority as well as they began to run out of generator fuel. The same held true for communication towers a few days into the recovery. Water treatment facilities and lift stations were also a strong consideration.

 

The bottom line is every member wants power turned back on – now. SECO is sensitive to that, and we understand the discomfort and inconvenience members experience. Personally, I slept on a cot in my office for four nights because my home was without power. I’m sharing that not for sympathy but to emphasize that SECO follows the plan and does not give special treatment or favors.

 

Once an emergency begins, logistics like fuel, food, lodging, manpower and a solid work plan are all critical to a timely restoration. Securing line and tree trimming contractor support from neighboring areas was difficult because Irma had such far-reaching effects. We searched far and wide and brought in contractors from Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and other parts of Florida.

 

SECO News, October 2017 - Hurricane Irma Hits Hard, SECO brought in contractors from Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and other parts of Florida.

 

Fuel, ice, food and hotel rooms for these folks became a logistical challenge as the state seemingly shut down before, during and after Irma. From the beginning of the restoration effort on Monday, fuel availability for our trucks was limited. Traffic on I-75 southbound delayed the out-of-state contractors’ arrivals. Evacuees understandably fled from coastal areas to central Florida, reducing the availability of hotels to lodge our restoration teams from out of state.

 

Contract line and tree crews arrived and suited up alongside our SECO home team after winds died down around noon that Monday. These professionals were in it to win it. SECO made significant progress, restoring power to over 90,000 members during the first three days of restoration – 49,000 members remained without power.

 

To better communicate with members, SECO developed an interactive restoration plan map that was launched Tuesday evening. The map was updated nightly to reflect the next day’s restoration plan.

 

SECO News, October 2017 - Hurricane Irma Hits Hard, To better communicate with members, SECO developed an interactive restoration plan map

 

This resource became a useful communication tool for members seeking information on the timing of their particular area’s restoration. Social media was a blessing throughout the hurricane and restoration, and helped members keep in touch when CenturyLink went down.

 

When Thursday dawned, progress slowed as SECO fought through new challenges and obstacles. High waters across roads and in homes prevented restoration in south Sumter County. Areas with significant damage took longer than planned. Stolen wire delayed restoration in Webster, Croom-A-Coochee and Lake Panasoffkee. Crews were redirected to allow restoration to continue in areas where we could restore larger numbers quickly.

 

SECO News, October 2017 - Hurricane Irma Hits Hard, Areas of south Sumter County were engulfed by rising water

 

The weather threatened to hinder progress on Friday and Saturday, as the presence of lightning would bring restoration to a stop. We put the word out for farmers to stop cutting hay and for residents to not wash their cars. We prayed and crossed our fingers.

 

Prayers were answered, and on Saturday at noon, less than 10,000 members were without power. We were determined to have full restoration complete by the end of the day Sunday, September 17. More than 1,200 SECO crews, along with line and tree contractors converged for the last time on our territory to finish rebuilding the remaining lines, clear trees, replace poles, avoid alligators and respond to the remaining small pockets of outages.

 

Though it was admittedly a rough week for those who lost power, I am proud to say that by Sunday night, 99.9% of SECO members had power restored. Only about 70 accounts in south Sumter County were unable to receive electric service due to high water conditions.

 

Many of our employees worked 20-hour days, didn’t have power at home and could have auditioned for a role on The Walking Dead. I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of the entire SECO team. I’m also grateful for the thousands of line and tree contractors who traveled thousands of miles to Florida, leaving their families to aid ours during Hurricane Irma restoration. They have my respect and appreciation.

 

In each major restoration event, there are lessons learned. Sometimes Murphy’s Law prevailed and other times, thankfully, we had favor and won the day. As a team, we celebrated the highs and worried through the lows.

 

Nature’s Reflections will be back next month. Clearly, Mother Nature made her presence known through Hurricane Irma as these photos show.

 

I believe in preparing for the worst and praying for the best. Hurricane Irma may be as close to the worst we will ever see. Today, let’s count our blessings and be thankful.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

Read the full October 2017 SECO News here.

 

Energy Insider – 1st Quarter

SECO Energy Insider, 1st Quarter 2017 - Squirrels, Raccoons and Birds Oh My!

Squirrels, Raccoons and Birds Oh My!

 

SECO Energy’s pursuit to deliver the most reliable electric service is challenged by a number of uncontrollable circumstances. Storms and downed trees cause the majority of power outages, but animals dish out their fair share of damage.

 

Animal attacks on SECO Energy’s electrical facilities (overhead and underground) occur daily unlike seasonal storms. From subterranean to aerial assaults, animals big and small are constantly coming in contact with our equipment.

 

SECO’s quest to reduce animal-related outages is constantly evolving. SECO utilizes various types of animal or “critter” guards placed on poles and in our substations. These guards keep squirrels, raccoons, birds, snakes and other animals from shorting out power.

 

SECO also utilizes bird “discouragers” to deter birds from building their nests on a pole. On rare occasions, large wingspan birds, like the Florida Osprey, bypass traditional “discouragers” and continue building their nest on a pole. At this point, SECO installs state-of-the-art bird nesting dishes to prevent large birds from coming in contact with energized lines. You may have noticed our nesting dishes while driving about – they look like large grey saucers on top of our electrical distribution poles.

 

“Critter” guards and bird “discouragers” help protect small animals and birds – and save your cooperative thousands of dollars annually in labor and equipment replacement costs.

 

 

SECO Energy Insider, 1st Quarter 2017 - Using Waste to Clean Water, Standard Purification

Using Waste to Clean Water

 

Watercarb, Stratocarb and Agcarb sounds like the next best thing in carbohydrates but don’t let the names fool you. They are actually forms of activated carbon produced at the Standard Purification manufacturing plant located at 551 N US Highway 41 in Dunnellon, Florida.

 

Powered by SECO Energy, Standard Purification began operations in 2010. In the summer of 2016, they merged with Donau Carbon, a global supplier of activated carbon located in three countries. Currently Standard Purification is only one of four plants in the US that produce these types of activated carbon aimed at purifying water, air and soil.

 

The process for making activated carbon at the Dunnellon facility uses reclaimed yellow pine ash. This wood byproduct is activated by high heat in a kiln. Next, it is cooled and ground into a fine powder. “It’s exciting to think that we can clean our environment by using a waste product such as wood ash,” says CEO Tony Julian who plans to increase plant production by  50 percent before yearend.

 

Watercarb is used in municipal potable water treatment and accounts for 90 percent of standard purification’s production and sales. This product primarily removes contaminants associated with the unpleasant taste and odor in water. It removes many organic, in-organic and synthetic contaminants from a variety of industrial processes including municipal, refinery, petrochemical and coal gasification, reducing the impact of industrial pollutants on waterways and drinking water supplies.

 

Stratocarb is used to remove mercury from flue gas emissions at coal fired power plants. Agcarb is widely used as a soil treatment where herbicides, pesticides and fertilizer have been over-applied. Often Agcarb is used to remove contamination in a variety of agricultural applications before re-seeding. It can also be used in environmental cleanup situations where there has been prior pollution.

 

To learn more about Standard Purification, visit their website at http://standardpurification.com/

 

 

SECO Energy Insider, 1st Quarter 2017 - Benchmarking Made Easy

Benchmarking Made Easy

 

Are you a fan of tracking your favorite individual or team performance using statistics? Baseball and football coaches use numbers to validate performance through each respective season. They pour over these numbers to set up a successful shot at a championship. So why not benchmark your facilities by meter/building and measure energy performance?

 

Benchmarking helps to determine how energy is used and provides insight to high usage trends. Tracking energy (kWh) and demand (kW) against production cost may allow you to see how to increase energy efficiency. The Energy Star link below provides tools to assist you and useful side by side comparisons of like facilities. You can even earn an Energy Star Certificate for your efforts.

 

According to Lake County School Board’s Energy Program Manager Pete Myles, “benchmarking is important in our quest to be the best. The exchange of ideas and like metrics is an invaluable tool to keep the District’s dollars in the classroom with the students.”

 

If you are not benchmarking your energy consumption, then you’re not doing yourself any favors. Tracking electric consumption and tying this into production will show how well (or poorly) you and your team are actually performing. It’s a lot like tracking your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and understanding how driving habits, speed, start/stops and your car’s overall condition impacts the outcome.

 

If you decide to begin benchmarking your electric usage, SECO Energy can provide consumption histories for up to 36 months for comparison purposes.

 

The Department of Energy website includes tips and tools for benchmarking your energy consumption.

 

Energy Star has developed this stand alone spreadsheet to help you get started.

 

 

Our Changing World

 

At the New and Emerging Technologies (NET) conference held recently in San Diego, California, Alex Klokus, Futurism CEO, said we’re living in exponential times. Alex believes we won’t experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century, instead, it will be more like 20,000 years of progress. The expectation of the future is becoming less predictable each day.

 

Advancements in science are continually being taken to a new level with some things being more exciting than others. Of course, it may depend on who you ask. For instance, vegetarians and vegans may like the idea of lab grown meat. It is cleaner, safer and healthier – just produced in a different way. It’s the same meat as you get from an animal, it just begins through extraction of animals cells. It has no contaminants, no animals are harmed and in blind taste tests, no difference in taste has been noted.

 

If the idea of lab grown meat doesn’t excite you then maybe a cure for cancer, HIV and other diseases will. Right now scientists are experimenting with copying and pasting good DNA. So instead of taking prescription drugs to treat ailments in the future, patients may opt for an innovative gene-editing technology or genetic surgery to snip out harmful mutations and replace them with good DNA. Through this technology blind rats are beginning to see with partially restored vision. Just this past year in China they began testing on humans. Scientists believe they can even “create longevity” and dramatically extend human life since aging is now reversible in mice.

 

Advancements in science that may allow humans to live longer is good news for everyone or is it? Expected advancement of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) may soon mean competition for jobs. In recent years, Science has shown us that AI can learn to play video games. Google Deepminds’ Deep Q-learning (AI) after just two hours figured out how to play Atari Breakout. After four hours it mastered the game better than any human. AI is making music and doing so involves creativity. AI can even reflect on how to do things better and has proven they can beat fighter pilots in combat simulations. If we can fundamentally solve intelligence we can do all things – right?

 

Then what about the electric utility industry? Electricity is the lifeblood that powers our nation and currently we’re going through a significant revolution – regulation, technology and economics are continually changing. Planning for future generation is becoming more complex because of the rate of change associated with new technologies and the public’s acceptance of such.

 

Although many people like the idea of “going green,” the economics of individuals doing so is still not favorable in most areas of the country and especially in Florida. In The Sunshine State, electricity remains a good value. In addition, those who have jumped on the solar bandwagon know rainy and cloudy days provide very little generating benefit so a utility-supplied backup is a must. After all, battery storage is still not affordable for the multitudes and although great gains are expected in coming years, right now batteries are not a viable option. However, in 2016, 39 percent of all new generating capacity that came online in the US was solar photovoltaic (PV). A large percentage of these were utility-scale projects.

 

Utility-scale projects are gaining in popularity because they are more economical to build than traditional roof-top solar. The large-scale projects most often provide power to wholesale buyers and not end-use consumers. Then there is “community” solar. A community solar arrangement allows the sharing of generated electricity to more than one household. This is the premise of SECO Energy’s Solar Life program.

 

Solar Life is an opportunity for SECO members to live a greener lifestyle without the upfront investment of traditional solar panels at their location. Subscribers pay a flat monthly fee of $32 for the output of four panels of our cooperative-owned two-megawatt array. The monthly output of the four panels is shown as a kilowatt hour credit on your monthly electric bill – reducing your utility-supplied power cost.

 

Who could have imagined just a short time ago your electric cooperative would be harnessing the power of the sun. Perhaps one day we’ll have time to ponder this more while enjoying our lab-grown meal delivered by our self-driving car and served by our robotic butler.

 

For more information about solar and SECO Energy’s Solar Life program visit us at www.secoenergy.com

 

 

 

BARBIE SHAW

Manager of Key Accounts & Energy Services
OFFICE: (352) 569-9787
CELL: (352) 303-3567
barbie.shaw@secoenergy.com

Hank Bolduc, SECO Energy Key Accounts Consultant

HANK BOLDUC

Key Accounts Consultant
OFFICE: (352) 569-9789
CELL: (352) 303-3546
hank.bolduc@secoenergy.com

Ryon Meyers, SECO Energy Key Accounts Consultant

RYON MEYERS

Key Accounts Consultant
OFFICE: (352) 569-9781
CELL: (352) 636-9593
ryon.meyers@secoenergy.com

J.D. Simmons, SECO Energy Key Accounts Consultant

J.D. SIMMONS

Key Accounts Consultant
OFFICE: (352) 569-9790
CELL: (352) 303-3183
jd.simmons@secoenergy.com

 

 

Sparking Interest in Energy Industry Careers

SECO Energy is participating in job fairs in Central Florida, helping to spark an interest in the energy industry for young students and current job seekers in the area.

 

On January 12, representatives from SECO’s Human Resources and Information Technology departments attended the Youth Career Expo at On Top of the World’s Circle Square Cultural Center in Ocala. Career Source of Citrus, Levy and Marion worked with the Marion County School District to introduce middle school students to an assortment of careers available in Marion County. Many careers available at SECO require a solid “S.T.E.M.” (science, technology, engineering and math) background.

Meagan and Rina at the job fair

 

SECO team members from Human Resources and Operations personnel attended the Construction Trades Job Fair at Wildwood Middle-High School sponsored by Compass HRM on Saturday, January 14. The job fair was attended by job seekers who live in or near Lake County who want to learn more about open positions in the area. Florida Governor Rick Scott also made an appearance at the job fair. Governor Scott is spreading the word that Florida is hiring and is open for business.

Governor Scott, Todd and Rina

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO is hiring and our Human Resources group is actively recruiting at job fairs in Central Florida. We are a regional utility serving members in seven counties in Central Florida. The commute from Tampa, Orlando, Daytona, Ocala and surrounding areas to our headquarters in Sumter County is only about an hour.”

 

Duncan added, “By attending job fairs geared for students, we are presenting students with information they need to make career plans. We want to attract current students to the energy industry for future employment. And we want them to know there are stable, well-paying jobs, with benefits, right here in their Central Florida hometowns.”

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

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.

 

 

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being members’ first source for accurate storm information.

SECO Continues Tracking Hurricane Matthew

SECO Energy continues to monitor and track Hurricane Matthew and its path to Florida. SECO is urging members to gather emergency supplies and be ready for service interruptions while the hurricane is passing through Florida and for a period of time thereafter.

 

As of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Matthew was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds up to 125 mph. The storm is currently located about 35 miles north-northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba and is moving north at 8 mph. The storm is still predicted to turn northwest Wednesday night and is expected to remain a major hurricane as it moves over the Bahamas Wednesday and Thursday. By Thursday evening, Matthew will be near Florida’s east coast – with the center located 25 to 30 miles off the coast. The state will feel its effects through Friday night.

 

The forecast for Florida includes rain bands and strong, potentially damaging wind gusts – especially within rain bands and thunderstorms. Members in SECO’s service area can expect heavy rain, gusty winds that may strengthen to tropical-storm-force.

 

SECO asks members to keep a close watch on the hurricane’s impact on the area and be prepared for the possibility of prolonged service interruptions. Members should check emergency supplies, fill vehicles with gas, stock up on non-perishables and check property for objects that could cause damage during high winds.

 

Make sure cell phones and tablets are fully charged – include extra chargers in your emergency supplies. Bookmark SECO’s Storm Center on your smartphone or tablet. It’s simple to report an outage using the account last name and house number.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

Nature’s Reflections – Salty Lightfoot Crab

Salty Lightfoot Crab

Colorful, feisty crab lives and hunts in rock crevices

 

The Salty Lightfoot crab, (Grapsus grapsus) also called the red rock crab, is found on rocky beaches in the Americas on both the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. It is a common crab on the Galapagos and along the Atlantic coast of Africa. In Florida, it can be found along the Atlantic coastline, living in the rocks of the jetties.

 

The Salty Lightfoot crab is a bright multi-colored crustacean. Its body, called the carapace, is three to four inches across and bright red with black, orange and yellow markings. It has ten jointed legs with a bright orange or yellow tip on each leg. Two legs are claws, called pinchers that are larger and are more vivid red. It has two large bluish eyes and four antennae. Males tend to be slightly smaller than females and the right claw is slightly larger than the left. The underbelly is pale white. Young Salty Lightfoot crabs are darker-colored.

 

Salty Lightfoot crabs can move quickly and demonstrate remarkable agility clinging to the rocks while powerful waves crash over them. It will eat practically anything it can get, from algae to dead fish. It is known to clean the beach of broken eggs and bird and bat droppings.

 

SECO Energy, SECO News September 2016 Nature’s Reflections – Salty Lightfoot Crab

 

While Salty serves an important role as predator and beach janitor, it is also a vital part of the ecosystem as prey for many animals including large birds, octopuses, sea turtles, etc. In addition, fishermen use the species for bait and others become part of the pet trade. Average lifespan in captivity is seven years.

 

Breeding occurs year round. Males battle for females in a crab-style boxing match and the victor wins brief access to the female. Males and females may have multiple partners over a breeding season. After mating both return to a solitary life. Eggs remain suspended in a female’s belly until hatching in about three weeks, normally during a full moon. Females may bear twenty to a hundred offspring in a clutch. Once the young drop into the water they are on their own. Females molt after hatching the eggs and are ready to mate again in about three weeks.

 

Column & photo by: Sandi Staton

 

 

Tropical Depression #9 Upgraded to Tropical Storm Hermine

As of Wednesday afternoon, Tropical Depression #9 is upgraded. Tropical Storm Hermine’s (pronounced Her-MEAN) maximum sustained winds are 40 mph and its location is 400 miles south of Apalachicola and is moving very slowly north at 2 mph. Hermine is expected to increase in speed when turning northeast toward Florida’s west coast. The latest models,predict that Hermine could make landfall somewhere between Apalachicola and Cross City on Thursday as a weak Category 1 hurricane.

 

In significant storms, SECO Energy engages resources to ensure power is restored quickly and safely. SECO’s Operations crews have already been supplemented with tree trimming crews and contractors. Additional reinforcements are on standby.

 

SECO Energy, Tropical Depression #9 Upgraded to Tropical Storm Hermine

 

SECO’s emergency restoration plan determines the system’s restoration priority of each affected feeder. Essential services such as shelters, hospitals, fire/law enforcement facilities, schools, and government agencies are the highest priority. Line repairs that will restore power to large groups of members are next, and then individual electric services in less populated areas. It’s important to understand that bucket truck maneuvers and electric line work cannot withstand winds in excess of 35 mph. Thus, SECO crews and contractors cannot begin restoration until winds subside.

 

Vice President of Corporate Communications & Energy Services Kathryn Gloria stated, “SECO is concerned about our members’ wellbeing. It’s critical to prepare for those rare moments when you must take cover in the dark and wait it out. As this slow-moving storm edges closer to Florida, members prepare to hunker down when the storm makes landfall on Thursday.”

 

Use these practical suggestions:

  • If using a landline, have a non-electric phone for emergencies.
  • Invest in and charge a battery-operated cell phone charger.
  • Buy a battery-powered radio and a supply of fresh batteries.
  • Keep flashlights and extra batteries handy.
  • Dig out your first aid kit and refill prescription medications.
  • Stock a three-day supply of bottled water.
  • Fill bathtubs with water to flush toilets.
  • Purchase canned or packaged nonperishable food.
  • Buy an old-fashioned crank can opener.
  • Review your homeowners and flood insurance.

If power is lost, turn off/unplug appliances to protect them when power is restored, to prevent electrical fires and to lessen the chances of a circuit overload when service is restored. Leave the porch light switch on so that you and the repair crews patrolling can confirm that power is restored.

 

SECO Energy, Tropical Depression #9 Upgraded to Tropical Storm Hermine. Leave your porch lights on.

 

If it appears that neighbors have power but you do not, check your panel for tripped breakers, as this is common. If the breakers aren’t tripped, report the outage using your smartphone or tablet through the SECO Storm Center – or call us.

 

If you operate a generator, run it outside in a well-ventilated area, as carbon monoxide emissions from a generator are a silent killer that you can’t see, smell or taste. Do not connect the generator directly to your main electrical panel. If installed incorrectly, generator power could flow into SECO’s electric system, causing injury or death to neighbors or crews who may be under the impression that power lines are not energized.

 

For more information on preparing, refer to SECO’s Emergency Checklist under the Reliability tab.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being its members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting your area.