TALLAHASSEE —
After weathering winter’s “polar vortex,” summer is welcome across the country. Even Floridians are ready to break out the sunscreen and flip-flops. However, summer in Florida also means the beginning of hurricane season, so as June begins, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is making sure the state’s utilities are prepared and Florida consumers have the safety information to plan for and recover from severe weather impacts.
“It’s easy to become nonchalant about preparing for Hurricane Season, since we’re repeatedly reminded about it every year. But, the state’s active storm history warns us that Floridians need to be prepared,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham. “Each year, the PSC provides helpful information for families and also ensures that Florida’s utilities are hardened for storm season.” To help Florida’s families prepare for hurricane season, the PSC provides vital information on its website. The PSC’s “Hurricane House,” in English and Spanish, is an online guide that includes 19 tips to help prepare your family and your home for severe weather. It includes tips from planning an evacuation route, to creating a Disaster Supplies Kit for emergency situations. The PSC also makes sure the state’s electric utilities are prepared for storm season. In April, the PSC reviewed annual Hurricane Preparedness plans for the state’s five investor-owned electric utilities and major telecommunications companies. Utility storm plans are designed to minimize electrical outages and help communities, businesses, and families return to normalcy as quickly as possible. The plans include PSC-mandated storm preparedness initiatives; facility inspections; maintenance and repairs; flooding and storm surge mitigation; wooden pole inspections; and coordination with other utilities, government, and community groups. For more information on storm safety and storm-hardening tips, visit the PSC website, at www.floridapsc.com. Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
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