LCEC tightens up preparation for impending Hurricane Milton impact: What Customers Need to Know

October 8, 2024 - As Hurricane Milton approaches, LCEC is fully prepared to respond quickly and efficiently to potential outages and infrastructure damage. With the storm forecasted to impact our service area, we want to assure our members that comprehensive measures are in place to minimize disruption and restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

Storm Preparedness Measures

The LCEC team has been closely monitoring the storm’s trajectory and has activated our storm response plan. Key actions include:

• Pre-staging crews and equipment - Line workers, tree-trimming crews, and specialized vehicles are positioned strategically throughout the service area to respond swiftly to outages as soon as it is safe and damage assessment is complete.
• Coordination with mutual aid partners – LCEC is in regular contact with partner utilities, local and state government agencies, and has already staged additional crews from out of state with more on the way if needed after the storm.
• Staffing up critical systems – LCEC control center is ready to ensure continuous monitoring and response throughout the storm.

What Customers Can Do

LCEC urges all members to take the following steps to prepare for possible power outages:

1. Charge devices and backup batteries ahead of the storm’s landfall.
2. If dependent on power for medical reasons, have a backup plan with a friend or family member.
3. Keep emergency supplies such as flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food on hand.
4. Sign up for outage alerts in SmartHub on lcec.net to stay informed of restoration updates.
5. Follow safety guidelines - Stay away from downed power lines.

Restoration Process

When outages occur, power is restored to main infrastructure firs, then critical facilities such as hospitals, emergency services, and water treatment plants, followed by repairs to main lines that can restore the greatest number of people at once. Crews will then work to restore power to neighborhoods and individual homes.

If you do not see a truck in your neighborhood, rest assured crews are working their way to you and will restore as quickly and safely as possible

LCEC appreciates your patience and understanding as we work to keep our members safe and restore electric service.

For more information, updates, and safety tips during the storm, visit the Storm Center on lcec.net or follow us on social media.