Update: More than 34,000 still without power in counties covered by post-storm emergency order
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Workers in Tallahassee are hoping to hit 90% restoration by Sunday evening.

More than 34,000 customers remain without power in counties covered by an emergency declaration following devastating storms that tore through the area Friday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Baker, Columbia, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties.

The number of outages in those counties remained above 80,000 for most of Saturday. By Saturday evening, the number was cut by more than half. Through Sunday morning, a few thousand more customers have regained power.

As of the 3p.m. update Sunday from the Public Service Commission, Leon County — home to Tallahassee — remains the most impacted county, with nearly 32,000 customers lacking power. That’s just under 21% of the county awaiting reconnections.

The overall number in Leon, however, is down from more than 70,000 Saturday morning.

The city of Tallahassee utility is showing 28,181 customers still affected. The Talquin Electric Cooperative also has 3,686 Leon customers without power.

The second-most affected county is Columbia, with 821 customers still powerless. Suwannee County shows 629 outages, followed by Wakulla with 482 and Hamilton with 279 outages.

No other county covered by the emergency order shows more than 250 outages as of Sunday afternoon.

Talquin Electric is the second-most impacted utility after the city of Tallahassee. Talquin has 4,268 customers without power across Leon, Wakulla and Gadsden. Suwannee Valley has 1,744 customers affected in Suwannee, Columbia, Hamilton and Lafayette counties.

The Tri-County Electric Cooperative has 35 outages in Jefferson and Taylor counties. Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation has just 10 outages remaining in Baker.

That puts the total number of outages in counties under DeSantis’ emergency order at 34,246.

Two other counties still affected outside those areas covered by DeSantis’ emergency order are Santa Rosa County (981 outages) and Escambia County (470 outages). All customers with outages in those two counties are covered by Escambia River Electric Cooperative.

The estimated restoration time is around 24 hours for those affected, except for city of Tallahassee customers in Leon County. The Public Service Commission report stated it may take at least three days to fully restore power there. Workers there hope to hit at least 90% restoration by Sunday evening.

The holdup in Tallahassee is partially caused by the serious damage done by tornado touchdowns. The city posted an update late Saturday morning laying out the impact.

“Tornadoes caused 286 blocked roads. Road clearing crews have worked nonstop and have cleared 178 in impacted neighborhoods. Work continues,” the city said.

In another post, the city added, “Due to the destruction caused by tornadoes, entire circuits are being fully rebuilt, including reconstruction of power lines and 119 large utility poles.” Many of those poles have since been replaced.

Ryan Nicol

Ryan Nicol covers news out of South Florida for Florida Politics. Ryan is a native Floridian who attended undergrad at Nova Southeastern University before moving on to law school at Florida State. After graduating with a law degree he moved into the news industry, working in TV News as a writer and producer, along with some freelance writing work. If you'd like to contact him, send an email to [email protected].


8 comments

  • Elvis Pitts "AMERICA'S BIG VOICE ON THE RIGHT" American

    May 11, 2024 at 10:31 am

    Good Morn ‘Ting Dook 4 Brains Leftys,
    STAND BY FOR NEWS:
    Our Sage Govornor always meets with the City & County officials whenever there is a disaster of any kind. This part of Florida is a small island of “Dook 4 Brains Lefty citizens who always vote in “Dook 4 Brains Leftys” into political office.
    IN CLOSING:
    Even though the local “Dooks” are rushing to take credit for the timely recovery efforts, Ladies & Gentelmen, and disgusting Dook 4 Brains Leftys, the locals would be mired in “Dook 4 Brains Leftist Failure” (Just like the Failed 8Iden Sad-Minisration) had “Ron The Ronald DeSantis and his Lovely Wife Casey not told the “Local Dooks” what to do & how to do it.
    Please join me, Elvis Pitts American, in thanking Baby Jesus for putting Ron & Casey DeSantis in charge.
    AND THAT AMERICA IS THE REST OF THE STORY:
    Elvis Pitts American
    *FREE BUMPER STICKER FOR YOUR SUBARU SUV*
    *I STAND WITH ELVIS PITTS AMERICAN*

    • Dont Say FLA

      May 11, 2024 at 11:03 am

      Pops you got the inside track. What has Gov Ron been praying for so much that he used up all his prayer capital and now storms are hitting all over, wreaking havoc willy nilly?

      Is he praying for Mrs Rhonda not to leave him? If so, let’s figure out how to keep Mrs Rhonda happy so Ron can go back to praying for storms to go away and possibly seeing success.

      • Elvis Pitts "AMERICA'S BIG VOICE ON THE RIGHT" American

        May 11, 2024 at 12:25 pm

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        While, I, Elvis Pitts American (DAD), may not comment directly on my specific clients to either confirm or deny anything, it is widely known that The Elvis Pitts American Fan Club holds private instruction on how a Sage Politicion can balance a busy political lifestyle while also keeping “The Lady Of The House” screaming his name while putting her “Brand Of Sage Satisfaction Down His Back” with her Beautiful finger nails.
        Again I, Elvis Pitts Amrican, can neither confirm nor deny any Sage Clients of our Fan Club’s “Special Services”.
        Thank you, Beautiful Son/Daughter,
        DAD

  • Dont Say FLA

    May 11, 2024 at 11:00 am

    FNG is activated for storm response. Great. How long is the drive back from Texas, and are the roads between there and here littered with downed trees and power lines and roofs and stuff? When will the FNG arrive? 3 weeks at best?

  • rick whitaker

    May 11, 2024 at 1:25 pm

    something sounds wrong about the power delay. here in tennessee, we know the weather’s coming, and then place the equipment and labor in ready to quickly respond. crews from out of state, why? if desantis’ mismanagement and placement of unqualified people in qualified positions is to blame, that is commonly called negligence.

    • Impeach Biden

      May 12, 2024 at 12:42 pm

      You really are a dumb ass. It is very common for power companies to have contracts with other utilities from other states. Like a collective when a disaster hits a particular state the others come on to assist.

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    May 11, 2024 at 4:47 pm

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  • Dick Chasey

    May 11, 2024 at 9:07 pm

    They’ve made these grandiose announcements, yet the map shows pretty much the same parts of Tallahassee out…including much of the Capitol. Odd…

Comments are closed.


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