[October 10, 2024 - 4 p.m.] 

ATTENTION FPU AND SHARP ENERGY CUSTOMERS:

U.S. National Weather Service Florida Milton Update   

Milton is now a Post-Tropical Cyclone.  

  • A Storm Surge Warning remains for the Flagler/Volusia County Line northward to Altamaha Sound, Georgia, including the St. Johns River. 
  • A Tropical Storm Warning remains for the Flagler/Volusia County Line northward to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. 

Tropical storm conditions and storm surge are still occurring over portions of the southeastern U.S. coast. The risk of considerable urban flooding will linger through this afternoon across east central Florida. Moderate to major river flooding is ongoing and forecast throughout central Florida.  

Recovery Assistance 

The Florida Division of Emergency Management is assisting those impacted by Hurricane Milton, and recovery resource updates can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/Updates. Residents can also call Florida’s State Assistance Information Line 24/7 at 1-800-342-3557 to receive information and resources about common recovery needs. There are operators that can assist English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole speakers. 

Post-Hurricane Clean-Up Safety 

As Milton moves out of Florida, conditions will gradually improve. When heading out or returning home, be mindful of potential damage such as fallen trees and power lines, as well as flooded/closed roads. Due to power outages, traffic lights may not be working.  

Additional safety tips: 

  • NEVER go near downed powerlines. 
  • Stay out of buildings that remain in flood waters. 
  • Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas. 
  • If the power is out, use flashlights to examine buildings. Flammables may be inside. 
  • Keep generators over 20 feet away from your home, well away from doors and windows, and on a flat, dry surface. 
  • Wear the appropriate safety gear to protect yourself.  

 Hurricane Information and Resources:  

 

 

 

[October 10, 2024 - 11:45 a.m.] 

ATTENTION FPU AND SHARP ENERGY CUSTOMERS:

Following Hurricane Milton, crews are assessing damage as quickly and safely as possible.
To report an electric outage, click here.

Following are some additional safety instructions to keep in mind following the storm:

  • Please leave the area and call 911 or FPU at 800-427-7712 immediately if:
    • You discover a downed electric wire or power line. Always assume it is energized (and therefore dangerous), and stay as far away as possible. NEVER TOUCH a downed power line or any telephone cable wires in close proximity. (Sharp customers should call 911 or your electric provider.)
    • You smell a distinct rotten egg odor. (Sharp Energy customers should call 888.742.7740, or 911.)
    • A gas pipeline or power line is damaged in any way, or any part of your energy service/system is visibly compromised. (Sharp Energy customers should call 888.742.7740 for propane concerns and your local electric provider for power line concerns, or 911.)
  • Only use generators outdoors and away from all doors, windows and vents. Do not connect portable generators directly to a breaker panel, fuse box or meter box; it creates a hazard for utility line workers.

 

 

[October 10, 2024 - 11:30 a.m.] 

ATTENTION FPU AND SHARP ENERGY CUSTOMERS:

 

After Hurricane Milton 

Safety is our first concern after every storm. According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Hurricane Milton will continue to impact the East Coast and Central Florida with tropical storm force winds, flooding and storm surge throughout the morning. 

Please leave the area and call 911 or FPU at 800-427-7712 immediately if:  

  • You discover a downed electric wire or power line. Always assume it is energized (and therefore dangerous) and stay as far away as possible. NEVER TOUCH a downed power line or any telephone cable wires in close proximity. 
  • You smell a distinct rotten egg odor. 
  • A gas pipeline or power line is damaged in any way, or any part of your energy service/system is visibly compromised. 

Power Restoration: FPU crews are working to evaluate the damage and prioritize safety, restoring service as quickly as possible concurrent with the restoration of a community’s critical infrastructure. FPU works with emergency management officials to restore power first to public health and safety facilities and organizations, such as hospitals, police and fire departments, communications, water and sanitary services and transportation.  

Report electrical outages by calling 800.427.7712 and visit our Outage Map to check the status of your area's power. 

Generator use: Generators should be used outdoors, at least 20 feet away from doors, windows and garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Properly ground and don’t overload. Do not connect portable generators directly to a breaker panel, fuse box or meter box; it creates a hazard for utility line workers. 

Avoid Flood Waters: Dangerous floodwaters are present in many areas due to impacts from Hurricane Milton. If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible. Do NOT drive into flooded roadways or around a barricade, water may be deeper than it appears and can hide hazards such as sharp objects, washed out road surfaces, electrical wires, chemicals, etc. A vehicle caught in swiftly moving water can be swept away in seconds. 

Road Closures/Detours: FDOT encourages drivers to download the FL511 app or visit FL511.com for road/bridge closures and potential detours that may be activated.  

Governor Ron DeSantis’ Oct. 10 9:30 a.m. Update: Watch it here. 

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota County last night and moved quickly across central Florida, producing significant flooding, high winds, and destructive tornadoes. 

Search and rescue operations began overnight as soon as the storm passed and are ongoing. National Guard, State Guard, and Fish and Wildlife Commission personnel, as well as local law enforcement and first responders, are engaged in rescue missions throughout impacted areas. 

Over 3 million households are without power, but 635,996 accounts have already been restored as of 6:00 AM. More than 50,000 linemen are in Florida and working to restore power as efficiently and safely as possible. As you are surveying damage and cleaning up your property, be cautious of hazards like downed power lines and operate generators a safe distance from your house. 

FDOT is leading Cut and Toss operations to clear roadways, and 150 inspectors have begun performing inspections to ensure bridges can reopen safely in impacted areas. If you do not live in the area, do not attempt to travel to areas impacted by Hurricane Milton—keep the roadways clear for first responders, FDOT personnel, and utility vehicles. 

 Hurricane Information and Resources:  

 

 

 

[October 9, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.] 

ATTENTION FPU AND SHARP ENERGY CUSTOMERS:

Stay Informed: We urge you to stay safe and heed instructions from emergency management, local and state officials.  Use a battery-operated NOAA weather alert radio or FM radio to stay informed or access the Florida Public Emergency Network partner stations listed below. 

 

Source: Florida Department of Emergency Management (facebook.com/FDEM) 

In any severe weather event, our crews will halt work if winds exceed 40 mph. After the storm, crews will evaluate the damage and prioritize safety to return to normal operations as quickly as possible. Operations will resume when it is safe to do so, after sustained winds have decreased to less than 40 mph. 

Electrical Safety Reminders 

  • Power outages can be expected as a result of Hurricane Milton. Act now to prepare for anticipated outages in your area: 
    • Unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment. 
    • Keep refrigerators/freezers closed, if possible. 
    • Use cell phones sparingly to conserve battery life. 
  • Report an electrical outage by calling 800.427.7712 or online, here.   
  • Do not attempt to remove trees or other debris from power lines. Also, stay away from power lines that are flooded or otherwise damaged. 
  • Do not operate electric appliances or controls that may have been flooded or damaged. 
  • If floods threaten your home or business, or if you evacuate due to flooding, turn off your electricity at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box.  

 Natural Gas/Propane Safety Reminders 

  • In the unlikely event that your natural gas service is interrupted, please do not attempt to turn your natural gas back on. Instead, contact FPU after the storm has passed to reconnect your service. 
  • If you smell a distinct rotten egg odor or otherwise sense a gas-related emergency, please leave the area and call 800.427.7712 and/or 911 immediately. 
  • Do not operate any natural gas/propane appliances you suspect have been flooded or damaged. 
  • If you find a propane tank on your property that is not yours, or if your propane tank has become dislodged or is missing, contact Sharp Energy at 888.742.7740, FPU Propane at 800.427.7712  or dial 911 immediately. 
  • Operate gas generators only after the storm has passed, outdoors and well away from all doors, windows and vents to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. 

 Hurricane Information and Resources: 

 

 

[October 9, 2024 - 2 p.m.] 

ATTENTION FPU AND SHARP ENERGY CUSTOMERS:

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National Weather Service Updates: According to the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center: tornadic supercells from Hurricane Milton are beginning to sweep across the southern Florida peninsula, and the time to prepare, including evacuating, is quickly coming to an end along the Florida west coast. Go to HURRICANE MILTON (noaa.gov) for updates. 

Governor Ron DeSantis’ Oct. 9, 11 a.m. Hurricane Milton Update: Watch it here. 

“As of this morning, Hurricane Milton is still a Category 4 storm. Even if it weakens before landfall, Milton will be a major hurricane with catastrophic impacts on our state.  

Now is the time to execute your hurricane preparedness plan. Heed evacuation warnings from your local emergency management officials. Time is running out—but there are free shelters in your area with enormous capacity still available, traffic is flowing, and shuttles and Uber rides are still available at no cost. You don’t need to evacuate hundreds of miles but tens of miles to avoid deadly storm surge. Belongings can be replaced; your life cannot. If you are not in a mandatory evacuation zone and choose to shelter in place, be prepared for power outages and make sure you operate your generator safely after the storm.  

We have over 50,000 linemen and all the necessary equipment staged just outside of Milton’s path. This is the largest staging of power restoration linemen in Florida’s history, and they are ready to get to work restoring power as soon as the storm passes. Florida is grateful for them, and for all the first responders and emergency management professionals who are working around the clock to keep our communities safe.” 

Other Resources     

 

 

[October 8, 2024 - 3:10 p.m.] 

ATTENTION FPU AND SHARP ENERGY CUSTOMERS:

Be ready. Be prepared. Be safe. 

Hurricane-Ready Resources: Now is the time to get hurricane-ready. Protect yourself, your family and your belongings by taking important safety measures regarding storm preparation and survival. Click here for preparation and natural gas safety resources and click here for propane safety resources. 

Evacuation: Know your evacuation route and zone. Click to access Florida’s Know Your Zone Map. Please take evacuation orders seriously. Select an evacuation destination that is nearest to your home, preferably in the same county, to minimize the distance over which you must travel to reach your intended shelter location. 

Hurricane Shelters: For information from your county Emergency Management program regarding shelter preparedness and lists of potential shelters that may be open, please visit the Shelter Information Index and choose your county. 

Governor DeSantis’ Preparedness Update: Governor Ron DeSantis provided updates on preparedness efforts for Hurricane Milton at 11 a.m. today. Information about hurricane and storm surge advisories is available here. 

Other Resources    

  Company News Releases:    

 

 

[October 8, 2024 - 10 a.m.] 

ATTENTION FPU AND SHARP ENERGY CUSTOMERS:

Florida Division of Emergency Management – Helpful Numbers and Links   

Find out if your county is under an evacuation order at http://FloridaDisaster.org/EvacuationOrders and determine if you need to evacuate soon. 
  • Local shelter information by county is available here.
  • Pre-register with the Florida Special Needs Shelter Registry to receive assistance during the upcoming storm. For more information, visit https://snr.flhealthresponse.com/ 
  • There will be free transportation in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties for people who wish to evacuate to shelters due to Hurricane Milton. This transportation is free and does not require a reservation. Times and locations are available at FloridaDisaster.org/Updates. Call 800-729-3413 for evacuation assistance in any evacuation zone, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
  • The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) is now active. Residents needing information before and after Hurricane Milton can call 1-800-342-3557. There are English, Spanish and Creole speakers available to answer questions.  
  • FDOT encourages drivers to download the FL511 app or visit FL511.com for road/bridge closures and potential detours that may be activated. 

Source: Florida Division of Emergency Management (floridadisaster.org), Oct. 8 – 10:00 a.m. 

 

 

[October 7, 2024 - 2:56 p.m.] 

ATTENTION FPU AND SHARP ENERGY CUSTOMERS:

We are actively monitoring and preparing for Hurricane Milton and are committed to keeping customers safe and informed.  

We are prepared to respond to any potential service interruptions that may result from heavy rain and high wind. Our restoration plan calls for a priority focus on critical community infrastructure, such as public health and safety organizations. Damage assessment and restoration efforts will begin when conditions are safe to do so and after sustained winds have receded to less than 40 mph. 

Reporting Outages, Service Interruptions or Emergencies:    
    
Florida Public Utilities (FPU)    

  • Natural gas customers should report any service interruptions or gas emergencies by calling 1.800.427.7712.     
  • Propane customers should report any service interruptions or gas emergencies by calling 1.833.486.0773.  

Sharp Energy 

  • Sharp Energy customers should report any propane emergencies to 888-742-7740. Please visit sharpenergy.com for propane safety information. 

For storm updates and additional safety information, please visit www.fpuc.com/stormupdate. Status updates will be posted online as additional information becomes available.    

We urge you to stay safe and heed instructions from emergency management, local and state officials.     

Following are some additional safety instructions to keep in mind leading up to the storm: 

  • Please leave the area and call 911 or FPU immediately if:   
  • You discover a downed electric wire or power line. Always assume it is energized (and therefore dangerous) and stay as far away as possible. NEVER TOUCH a downed power line or any telephone cable wires in close proximity.   
  • You smell a distinct rotten egg odor.   
  • A gas pipeline or power line is damaged in any way, or any part of your energy service/system is visibly compromised.   
  • Only use generators outdoors and away from all doors, windows and vents. 
  • If a hurricane threatens your safety, turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank, if it is safe to do so. 
  • In flood zone areas, make sure your large above ground and underground propane tanks are anchored securely to avoid potentially dangerous situations.    
  • It is imperative that customers who rely on critical medical equipment take necessary precautions to prepare for the storm in the event of an outage or mandatory evacuation. 

Be ready. Be prepared. Be safe. 

   

Other Resources   

  Company News Releases: