Statement By: Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director, Regarding Preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia

The Florida Municipal Electric Association is preparing for Tropical Storm Idalia, which is expected to intensify into a major hurricane before coming ashore on Florida’s west coast on Wednesday.

We have been and will remain in contact with our 33 member utilities to identify any power restoration needs they might anticipate in advance of impacts from the storm. At our request this weekend, our national network of mutual aid has been activated. We are working with the American Public Power Association and its network of 2,000 public power utilities across the country to identify personnel and equipment resources that will be ready to assist Florida’s recovery efforts.

Currently, more than 30 utilities from Georgia, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Ohio, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Alabama have answered the call to provide mutual aid assistance. Crews are deploying from their respective states today and will be pre-positioned in Florida or nearby so they can enter impacted areas to assist with power restoration as soon as it is safe.

We have also been in communication with Governor DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, along with other Florida utilities. We will continue to work closely with our partners at the state and local emergency operations centers as Tropical Storm Idalia moves closer to Florida’s shores and throughout recovery efforts.