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Florida Public Power Sending Hurricane Florence Mutual Aid

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Statement By Amy Zubaly, Executive Director, Florida Municipal Electric Association, Regarding Hurricane Florence

“As Hurricane Florence bears down on the Carolinas, Florida public power has prepared to respond by engaging our network of mutual aid. More than 200 crew members and equipment from 18 Florida public power communities are standing by to assist with power restoration efforts in North Carolina and South Carolina following the impacts of dangerous Hurricane Florence, which is expected to cause widespread power outages and massive property damage. [Read more…] about Florida Public Power Sending Hurricane Florence Mutual Aid

Florida Public Power Leaders Receive National Awards

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The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) and Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) today announced four Florida public power leaders were honored with American Public Power Association (APPA) national awards. Recognized were Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director, Frederick (Fred) Bryant, former FMPA and FMEA General Counsel, Chris Gent, Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) Vice President of Corporate Communications, and Michael Perri, Jr., Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) Board member. The awards were presented this morning at the APPA National Conference & Public Power Expo in New Orleans. APPA is the national trade association for more than 2,000 U.S. community-owned electric utilities.

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Florida Public Power Communities Sending Mutual Aid to U.S. Virgin Islands to Assist with Power Restoration Efforts

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The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) announced public power personnel from four Florida municipal electric utilities will be headed to the U.S. Virgin Islands today and tomorrow to assist with power restoration efforts there following destructive Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Headed first to St. Croix, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria, are 31 public power personnel from the City of Tallahassee electric utility, Ocala Electric Utility, City of Homestead electric utility and Fort Pierce Utilities Authority. They are bringing with them more than 30 bucket trucks, pickup trucks, trailers and other pieces of equipment, which will float to St. Croix via barge from Palm Beach. The public power crews will fly to St. Croix to meet the trucks.
With only 25 percent of the island’s power restored, St. Croix is the first priority. If able, Florida public power personnel may also assist with restoration efforts on St. Johns and St. Thomas, which were significantly damaged by Hurricane Irma.
“After Hurricane Irma tore through nearly the whole state, Florida utilities were the grateful beneficiaries of mutual aid from utilities all across the country. We are honored to have this chance to return the favor and help our neighbors in the U.S. Virgin Islands get their lights and their lives back to normal,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “And, we deeply appreciate the service and dedication of these public power lineworkers who are leaving their families behind during Thanksgiving to assist.”
The mutual aid to the U.S. Virgin Islands has been coordinated by FMEA, in conjunction with the American Public Power Association (APPA) and U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (USVI-WAPA).
Mutual Aid Agreements enable municipal utilities to call on each other for emergency workers and supplies. Florida’s public power utilities benefit from this strong network of partners within Florida and across the country through the APPA. Florida’s municipal electric utilities also have forged mutual aid arrangements with Florida’s investor-owned utilities. These dependable connections have created a reliable system where member utilities both request and offer assistance.