Duke Energy Florida is mobilizing approximately 10,000 responders in anticipation of potential power outages related to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 storm. The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings of life-threatening storm surges, strong winds, and heavy rainfall affecting Florida’s west coast.
The company cautions that the hurricane may cause widespread damage to infrastructure, potentially leading to extended power outages.
"Based on the current track, Hurricane Milton will impact the most populated areas of our service territory," said Duke Energy Florida Storm Director Todd Fountain. "Customers should prepare for significant damage and extended power outages."
Duke Energy is dispatching crews from its operations in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana to assist with recovery efforts. The responders will include power line technicians, vegetation workers, damage assessors, and support personnel.
Trucks will begin arriving at staging locations in The Villages, Suwannee Valley Farmers Market, and Richie Brothers Auction to prepare for restoration efforts. These locations have been strategically chosen to be as close as possible to areas expected to be impacted by the storm.
Once it is safe to travel, crews will be deployed to make repairs and restore electrical service as quickly and safely as conditions allow. Duke Energy meteorologists are continuously monitoring Hurricane Milton’s movement and are providing up-to-date forecasts to assist in planning and preparation.
