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Hurricane Idalia: 91,000 without power in Florida should see relief - Tallahassee Democrat

Tallahassee Democrat · last updated

Hurricane Idalia: 91,000 without power in Florida should see relief

When will power be restored to Taylor, Madison, Jefferson counties? Duke has estimates
C. A. Bridges

As of Friday afternoon, power is still out for nearly 100,000 customers in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference updating recovery efforts after Hurricane Idalia.

"We're now at 400, I think almost 480,000 accounts have been restored to power since the storm hit," Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday afternoon at a press conference in Live Oak as he provided updates on recovery efforts after Hurricane Idalia. "The outstanding without power is approximately 84,000, and that's heavily concentrated with some of the electrical cooperatives.

"Duke Energy has put forward its schedule to be able to get all of its customers in the hard-hit counties back online. You're gonna see a lot today, tomorrow, and then by Sunday night. Then we have all these other linemen who are here, that can help."

"This is the latest time we expect to have the majority of customers restored," Duke said in a release, "though many customers will be restored before then."

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When will my power be restored in Alachua County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Friday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Columbia County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Dixie County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Friday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Gilchrist County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Friday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Hamilton County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Sunday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Jefferson County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Friday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Lafayette County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Friday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Levy County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Friday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Madison County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Sunday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Suwannee County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Friday night, the company said.

When will my power be restored in Taylor County?

95% of all Duke customers should see their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, the company said.

Why is it taking so long to get my power back?

Some areas are easier to reconnect than others, Duke said. Where some locations just need cables restrung, new poles installed or elements of the system replaced, areas impacted directly by Idalia’s landfall experienced extensive damage or flooding and may require more time for restoration.

In some situations, a home or business is not yet ready to receive power.

"For customers whose home or business is flooded, Duke Energy cannot reconnect power until the electrical system has been inspected by a licensed electrician," the company said. "If there is damage, an electrician will need to make repairs and obtain verification from the local building inspection authority before power can be restored.

"If the meter box is pulled away from a customer’s house or mobile home service pole and power is not being received, the homeowner is responsible for contacting an electrician to reattach the meter box and/or provide a permanent fix. In some instances, an electrical inspection may be required by the county before Duke Energy can reconnect service. An electrician can advise customers on next steps."

How long does food last in a refrigerator or freezer after the power goes out?

A refrigerator will keep food cold for four hours after the power goes out, according to the CDC, and a full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours. A half-full freezer will keep food cold for about 24 hours. Avoid opening the doors as much as possible to keep the cool air in. Here's a list of what's still good in the fridge and what will need to be thrown out.

How do you survive a long power outage?

How to survive a prolonged power outage
How to keep cool in a Florida heat wave when the power goes out
Looking to buy a generator? From types to cost, here are 7 things you should know
Power still out from Hurricane Idalia? You can grill these frozen foods
There's a power outage, and you're hungry—what can you cook?
6 activities to keep little ones occupied without power

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