Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company (OG&E) will deploy a team of more than 110 line restoration crews early Wednesday morning ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall. The hurricane is expected to arrive in Florida on Wednesday as a Category 5 storm, and has the potential to cause widespread, prolonged power outages.
Trucks and materials used in the rebuilding and restoration efforts for Hurricane Helene in Georgia will now head to Florida to help with the anticipated damage from Hurricane Milton. At the request of Florida Power & Light, nearly 100 line crew and support personnel will stage in Savannah, Georgia, then travel to Florida safely to communities impacted by Hurricane Milton. The remaining OG&E crew, which specialize in underground line work, will drive to Florida to assist Duke Energy Florida. Both Florida electric companies requested OG&E’s support and are responsible for funding the mutual assistance to speed restoration and rebuilding efforts for their customers.
“We are positioning fresh crews in advance of Hurricane Milton’s projected devastating impact to Florida as our crews supporting Georgia Power following Hurricane Helene have completed their work and are coming home,” said Andrea Dennis, OG&E Vice President of Transmission & Distribution Operations. “Helping other electric companies across the country following natural disasters and damage from extreme weather means their customers can recover and rebuild their communities more quickly. We are humbled to be able to help and know the people impacted by these severe, destructive storms need our assistance.”
The restoration efforts in Florida will be the fifth deployment for OG&E this year.
“Our crews are passionate about their work and know that having power is essential to getting communities back on their feet after severe weather leaves damage in its wake. I am proud of our crews and support personnel who continuously step up when our neighbors need it most,” said Chad Guthrie, OG&E Transmission and Distribution Director of Construction Operations.
“I had the privilege of personally visiting OG&E crews and witnessing their unwavering commitment to restoring normalcy for those affected by Hurricane Helene,” Scott Moore, Senior Vice President of APC Power Delivery about his interaction with the OG&E crews in Georgia. “Your dedication in traveling to Georgia and sacrificing time with your own families to assist those in dire need exemplifies the spirit of our industry. OG&E is a great example of the positive impact that mutual assistance efforts have on the utility sector. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to service.”
