As of Saturday afternoon, Hurricane Milton has caused significant disruptions to electrical services in Marion County, resulting in over 7,000 customers experiencing power outages. Outage maps from various utility providers indicate that Duke Energy is reporting approximately 6,875 outages, while SECO has noted around 980. Notably, Ocala Electric Utility has managed to restore power for all of its customers, while Clay Electric has indicated that a few outages persist within its coverage area. The storm’s impact has been widespread across the region, leading to hospitalizations and delays in restoration efforts due to ongoing hazards, including downed power lines and extreme flooding.
Duke Energy has communicated its commitment to restoring service to all residents in Marion County by no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday evening. Following the storm, Duke faced more than a million outages statewide, but as of noon Saturday, that figure had decreased to approximately 580,000. In their communications, Duke Energy has cautioned that particularly affected customers, especially those dealing with severe damage or flooding, may face longer wait times for restoration, urging them to prepare accordingly for what could be extended outages.
SECO, the Sumter Electric Cooperative, reported that over 100,000 of its members had lost power due to Hurricane Milton, constituting roughly 41% of its total membership. While significant progress had been made by noon Saturday, with nearly 80,000 members having their services restored, the cooperative emphasized the ongoing nature of their restoration efforts. SECO’s crews have been working tirelessly since the storm’s onset, with an influx of 300 additional crews joining them to expedite the process, having been released from similar restoration efforts in the Carolinas.
The task of restoring power is further complicated by the extensive and widespread damages inflicted by the hurricane. SECO Energy has alerted its members about the multitude of challenges that lie ahead in bringing every meter back online. The devastation caused by downed lines, broken poles, flooding, and fallen trees means that some communities may experience delays in restoration. Given these factors, the cooperative has requested patience from its members during this lengthy recovery period, as their teams continue to work around the clock to restore services.
As utility companies undertake the daunting task of restoring power to affected regions, the customer experience remains a priority. Updates regarding restoration efforts are expected as crews assess the damage and make advances in their restoration work. Utility providers have pledged to keep communication lines open, providing their customers with the latest information concerning outages and projected restoration timelines. The commitment of these companies, coupled with the hard work of their crews, aims to help communities reestablish normalcy in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
In summary, the aftermath of Hurricane Milton has resulted in significant power outages and challenges in Marion County, with utility companies like Duke Energy and SECO mobilizing extensive resources to restore services. While considerable progress has been made, the full restoration of power is likely to extend into the coming days, especially in severely impacted communities. Continued communication from utility providers will be crucial for residents as they navigate the recovery process from this impactful storm.
