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Tag: Hurricane Handbook

SECO News, June 2020

 

Duncan’s Digest – High Risk Hurricane Season

 

My background by trade is accounting and finance. I have a healthy belief in data analysis to project trends. The percentages below certainly get my attention and should grab yours as well.

 

May 2018 SECO News Duncan's Digest

 

The Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU) published its Atlantic hurricane season forecast in April. These experts predict the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season will have above-normal activity. This includes the probability of major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 and 5) to make landfall along the U.S. coast and in the Caribbean based on historical and 2020 probability trackers.

 

Historically between 1878 and 2017, Florida had a 51% probability of a hurricane spinning into the state. The probability of a major hurricane was 21%. CSU’s probability tracker for 2020 reflects an increased chance of 68% of a hurricane affecting the state. The probability that at least one major hurricane will make Florida landfall is 31%.

 

For the Gulf Coast, the probability of at least one major hurricane making landfall is 44% which is above the historical average. For the U.S. east coast including Florida, the probability of at least one major hurricane making landfall this year is 45% which is also above average.

 

While these statistics are troubling, the fact is that living on the Florida peninsula surrounded by water, we are bound to feel the effects of tropical storms and hurricanes. Preparing before they happen is critical.

 

SECO Energy is StormReady and strongly encourages your family to practice hurricane preparedness. Our storm hardening efforts include replacing aging distribution poles, upgrading transmission poles from wood to concrete and trimming trees that encroach on power lines.

 

StormReady also includes our $1 million investment in our outage map, reporting tools, status checker and communications platform called StormCenter. Members can proactively enroll to receive outage communications through email, text, voice messages or all three.

 

StormCenter identifies the service locations affected by an outage and proactively sends a notification with the estimated restoration time, crew status and more. Once service is restored, you’ll receive a message that includes the outage cause if known. You can set do not disturb times if you don’t want to be called in the middle of the night about an outage or restoration. To choose notification preferences, visit StormCenter on the website and click on the Manage Notifications tab.

 

Reporting a new outage or checking the status of an existing outage with your smartphone or tablet is easy. Click “Report Outage” and enter the account holder’s last name and house number (or the account or phone number). Find the status of an existing outage on the Check Status tab.

 

Create a StormReady plan for your family that includes gathering emergency supplies, reading our Hurricane Handbook, enrolling in county alerts and saving your county Emergency Operations Center (EOC) number on your phone.

 

Prepare for the worst, hope and pray for the best and know that it is our privilege to serve as your energy provider.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

SECO News June Generator Safety

 

Generator Safety

 

Are you considering purchasing an in-home generator as a back-up power source during unexpected power outages? Know the difference between stationary and portable generators and learn safety tips that save lives.

 

Stationary generators are permanently affixed with an approved disconnect and transfer switch that isolates your home’s circuits from SECO Energy’s electric system. This isolation eliminates the risk of backfeeding onto utility lines. Installing a stationary generator is not a DIY project. Contact a licensed electrician.

 

Portable generators are more common than stationary. Portable generators use extension cords to plug desired appliances into the generator.

 

Generators emit deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas that is odorless and colorless. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends installing a battery-operated CO detector in your home. Place the detector where the alarm will wake you up – just outside bedroom doorways is a good choice. Never run a generator outside an open window or in an enclosed area such as a garage. Also, never use a generator in the rain. You can be shocked or killed.

 

Always read your unit’s safety and instruction manual before operating. Visit our Generator Safety page for more safe operating tips and watch our video to learn how to size a generator correctly.

 

SECO News June 2020 Winners' Circle

 

Winners’ Circle

 

Welcome ELECTRA as our new IVR virtual assistant. Thank you, members, for voting to help us name our newest SECO representative. ELECTRA assists with billing inquiries, outage reporting, checking the status of a current outage and automated payment arrangements.

 

ALL MEMBERS WHO VOTED WERE ENTERED TO WIN ONE OF FIVE GREAT PRIZES.

 

Winners:

 

$250 SECO BILL CREDIT – Amanda Robertson, Clermont

 

RING DOORBELL – Larry Bocharski, Deland

 

NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT – Scott McConnell, Lake Panasoffkee

 

AMAZON ALEXA – John Halpin, Ocala

 

AMAZON FIRE TABLET – Warren Hammersla, The Villages

 

Congratulations winners!

 

SECO News June 2020 Pennies From Heaven Count

 

Pennies from Heaven Count – Enroll Today

 

Thousands of SECO residential members and small business owners have been unable to pay their electric bills since the economic effect of COVID-19 hit. Can you help? Enroll in our Pennies from Heaven program to round up your monthly bill to the nearest dollar. The donated pennies fund bill payment assistance for SECO members. The average donation is $6 per year. Visit our Pennies from Heaven page to enroll. Members can also enroll through SmartHub. Choose “Bill & Pay” and click on “Pennies from Heaven.” You will need to accept the Terms & Conditions and click “Round bill to next dollar each month.”

 

If you prefer to make a one-time donation, send a check to SECO Energy, Attn: Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585.

 

For members who have already enrolled, thank you for your generosity and your willingness to help your neighbors and communities. Your pennies make a difference in the lives of members in need. If you need help, text or call Florida 211 for resources in your area supported by SECO Pennies from Heaven funding.

 

SECO News June Emergency Operations Center Contacts (EOC)

 

EOC Contacts

 

AS PART OF YOUR FAMILY’S STORMREADY PLAN, sign up for emergency alerts from your local Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Visit your county’s EOC website for resources such as shelter information, storm planning, evacuation orders and more.

 

To enroll in your county’s emergency alerts, visit the Florida Disaster website. Enter the county or city and follow the enrollment link. Program your county’s number on your phone to have at your fingertips.

 

Citrus County EOC (352) 527-2106 or (352) 746-5470

 

Hernando County EOC (352) 754-4083 or (352) 754-4111

 

Lake County EOC (352) 343-9420

 

Levy County EOC (352) 486-5213

 

Marion County EOC (352) 369-8100

 

Pasco County EOC (727) 847-8137

 

Sumter County EOC (352) 689-4400

 

SECO News June 2020 Hurricane Handbook

 

Hurricane Handbook

 

The SECO Energy Hurricane Handbook is your one-stop guide to being StormReady before, during and after a storm.

 

The Hurricane Handbook defines hurricane category strength, outlines our restoration priority and dispels the myth that SECO disconnects service in advance of an approaching storm. Before a storm arrives, bookmark both StormCenter and our Daily Restoration Plan map on your smartphone or tablet. Enroll in your county’s alert notifications at FloridaDisater.org. We’ve included a seven-day supply stock-up list for you and your pets and advice for members who require electricity for medical equipment. Back-up generation is critical for these special needs members.

 

What to do during a storm? Hunker down and stay informed. Remain indoors and prepare to wait out the weather safely. SECO Energy crews are dispatched to begin restoration only after winds are under 35 mph. Read about the difference between a tornado watch versus a warning. Read the sections on Electric System 101 and Generator Safety.

 

Assess your home or business to make sure it’s safe before you return. If you experience damage, turn off your main breaker if it is safe to do so. If appliances are wet, turn off each appliance’s breaker and then unplug. Check our above ground and underground service diagrams to assess electric damage and know when to call an electrician for repairs.

 

Focus on your family’s safety by heeding storm watches and warnings. Stock up on hurricane essentials – buy early. When a storm approaches supplies sell out quickly.

 

Read the full June 2020 SECO News online.

Hurricane Dorian Rain Bands Lash SECO Energy Area

Hurricane Dorian’s outer rain bands lashed the eastern portion of SECO Energy’s service area overnight Tuesday and continue into Wednesday. SECO’s electric system fared well during wind gusts that topped a reported 40 mph.

 

Hurricane Dorian is hovering off Florida’s east coast this morning as a CAT 2 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds at 105 mph. Dorian is moving north-northwest at 8 mph. SECO members can expect Hurricane Dorian’s outer bands to dump more rain on the already saturated ground. Dorian’s rain bands are forecast to clear SECO Energy’s service territory later tonight. For the remainder of the day SECO members located east of I-75 can expect rain bands, isolated lightning and wind gusts up to 40 mph.

 

September is typically the peak of Atlantic hurricane season. According to the National Hurricane Center, as of early Wednesday morning there are five active Atlantic tropical cyclones and disturbances. SECO Energy’s new Hurricane Handbook is available on SECOEnergy.com by clicking on the homepage banner. The Hurricane Handbook is a member guide for preparing before, during and after a storm. The cooperative has included tips on generator safety, restoration priorities, downed power line safety, electric system 101, Florida’s Move Over Law and more.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO Energy’s service area will most likely experience a rainy Wednesday while Hurricane Dorian moves away from Central Florida. Overnight, crews responded to a handful of outages. In fact, as of this morning less than 100 members experienced an outage caused by Dorian. The hurricane’s rain and wind bands haven’t cleared out of our system yet, outages caused by lightning, heavy rains and falling trees may still occur.”

 

Duncan added, “The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season is far from over. Hurricane Dorian was a timely reminder that Floridians need to prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes that affect our area. Read the Hurricane Handbook, keep your supplies updated and continue to watch local weather reports.”

 

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 online and bookmark on your smartphone or tablet to report outages quickly and easily.

 

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.

Local Counties Preparing for Hurricane Dorian

Additional shelters are opening in the counties served by SECO Energy to assist residents in need of shelter during Hurricane Dorian. SECO members who require uninterrupted electricity to power medical devices are advised to wait out Hurricane Dorian at a shelter that meets their special needs. Deadly Hurricane Dorian stalled over parts of The Bahamas on Monday destroying property and is responsible for a reported five deaths.

 

Hurricane Dorian is spinning at about 120 mph at a forward speed of just 2 mph. Hurricane force winds extend 40 miles and tropical storm winds extend 160 miles. Dorian is expected to pick up forward motion later today and bring rain bands and sustained winds of about 25 mph to the SECO service territory. Overnight and into Wednesday, SECO Energy members east of I-75 will likely experience sustained winds of 35 mph and gusts up to 50 mph. SECO Energy is StormReady with 800 additional line and tree contractors from Rhode Island, Indiana, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York and New Jersey.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Hurricane Dorian is forecast to move away from The Bahamas and move northwest with an eventual eastern turn that keeps it just off Florida’s coast. SECO Energy’s service area could begin to feel the hurricane’s effects late this afternoon. Members who live in homes or areas that are subject to flooding, suggested to evacuate, or need guaranteed power to sustain life should check in at a shelter today. If conditions deteriorate emergency personnel may be grounded and unable to help until the storm passes.”

 

Duncan added, “SECO Energy has been monitoring and preparing for Hurricane Dorian since early last week. The cooperative is prepared for power outages caused by Hurricane Dorian. Out-of-state crews began to arrive on Monday to assist. Please take this storm seriously and put your family’s safety first.”

 

Two shelters are open in Sumter County. A pet-friendly, general public shelter is available at the Sumter County Fairgrounds at 7620 SR 471, Webster. A special needs shelter is open in Wildwood at the Wildwood Community Center at 5600 Powell Road. Sumter County officials are concerned that flooding in the county will be worse than in 2017 with Hurricane Irma. Shelters are available for residents living in mobile homes, recreational vehicles and low-lying flood prone areas.

 

Six shelters are open in Lake County. The general public shelter is open at Mount Dora High School located at 700 N. Highland Street, Mount Dora. Two pet-friendly shelters are available at Round Lake Elementary 31333 Round Lake Road, Mount Dora and Spring Creek Elementary 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley. Three special needs, pet-friendly shelters are open at Leesburg Elementary 2229 South Street, Leesburg and Lost Lake Elementary 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont and Umatilla Elementary 401 Lake Street, Umatilla.

 

Marion County is opening four shelters. Two general population shelters are opening today at noon located at Fort McCoy Middle School at 16160 NE County Road 315, Ft. McCoy and North Marion Middle School at 20085 W Highway 329, Citra. A special needs only shelter is currently open at West Port High School at 3733 SW 80th Avenue, Ocala. A pet-friendly shelter at Lake Weir High School at 10351 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala opens at noon today.

 

Citrus, Hernando, Levy and Pasco Counties are not opening shelters at this time, but officials are closely monitoring Hurricane Dorian. Schools are closed on Tuesday (today) in Citrus, Hernando, Levy, Pasco and Sumter Counties. In Lake County, schools are closed Tuesday and Wednesday; in Marion County, schools are closed for the rest of this week.

 

SECO Energy’s Hurricane Handbook is available on SECOEnergy.com by clicking on the homepage banner. The Hurricane Handbook offers members tips for preparing before, during and after a storm. The cooperative has included tips on generator safety, downed power line safety, electric system 101, Florida’s Move Over Law and more.

 

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 at SECOEnergy.com>StormCenter and bookmark on your smartphone or tablet to report outages quickly and easily. Once the hurricane has passed SECO’s area later next week, members should use our Daily Restoration Plan Map to identify if crews are working in their area that day. Visit SECOEnergy.com and click on the homepage banner to access the map.

 

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.

Test Generators Today for Safe Operation Next Week

SECO Energy continues to monitor Hurricane Dorian’s uncertain track as it nears the Florida peninsula. Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 4 hurricane, but its track shifted to the east overnight. Forecasters predict Dorian may not make a Florida landfall. Instead it may travel along Florida’s east coast as a powerful CAT 3 or 4 hurricane, but hurricane-force winds extend for 30 miles and tropical storm force winds extend 105 miles. Even an off-coast path of a CAT 3 or 4 hurricane will impact SECO’s service territory – likely on Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

 

Major weather events often cause extended power outages. SECO Energy asks members using a generator to operate the equipment in a manner that promotes safety for yourself, SECO employees, its contractors and the public. 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 in proximity to 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. Test it today before the wind and rain hit next week. SECO Energy’s new Hurricane Handbook includes generator safety tips and preparation for before, during and after a storm.

 

CEO Jim Duncan warns members to remain vigilant. Duncan stated, “Hurricane Dorian’s track has shifted slightly to the east; however, SECO Energy’s service area will experience the effects of Dorian. Members should prepare for tropical-storm force winds and more rain in an already wet summer. Saturated ground will cause trees to fall on lines and may topple poles. Stay away from downed lines. Our members should prepare for the possibility of widespread and lengthy outages. If Dorian does not stay further offshore, we expect that damage may be significant and the restoration process lengthy.”

 

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. Once the hurricane has passed SECO’s area later next week, members should use our Daily Restoration Plan Map to identify if crews are working in their area that day. Click on the homepage banner to access the map.

 

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.