{"id":50794,"date":"2024-10-11T12:40:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T16:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=50794"},"modified":"2024-10-11T12:40:38","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T16:40:38","slug":"hurricane-milton-restoration-lakeland-oct-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2024\/10\/11\/hurricane-milton-restoration-lakeland-oct-11\/","title":{"rendered":"HURRICANE MILTON RESTORATION LAKELAND – OCT. 11"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the peak, Lakeland Electric had approximately 85,000 customers without power. Power has been restored to over half of those customers in just one day. As of 9 a.m. this morning, 38,000 customers are without power.\u00a0Due to the extensive wind and flood damage, it is estimated that power restoration will take at least seven days to get all customers online.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Lakeland Electric continues to increase mutual aid crews in the field. There are now\u00a0over 600 personnel\u00a0<\/strong>helping restore power.\u00a0 This includes more than\u00a0500 mutual aid<\/strong>\u00a0personnel from Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Alabama, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Oklahoma,\u00a0Texas, and Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is five times normal operation, and it is the goal to get every customer back online as quickly as possible.  The Lakeland Electric smart grid system automatically reports power outages, customers can view the outage map by visiting lakelandelectric.com\/outagemap<\/a>.  Please call Customer Service at 863-834-9535 to report electric emergencies and downed lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some areas around Lakeland that were hit very hard with flooding.\u00a0 The Lakeland area experienced over 12 inches of rain in 24 hours taxing the City\u2019s stormwater system.\u00a0 Water is starting to subside, but some ponding is still evident.\u00a0 Residents in low-lying areas are prone to flooding, so please avoid extensive use of water.\u00a0 All used water going down the drain impacts the waste-water process in moving water through the system. Be careful and when approaching standing water in a vehicle, do so with extreme caution or avoid it all altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The City of Lakeland still has 39 lift stations without power. The good news is that 16 of those are powered by permanent generators and the other 23 are running on portable generators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several notices of boil water in place.\u00a0 Go to\u00a0lakelandgov.net\/boilwaternotices<\/a>\u00a0for the latest updates.\u00a0 Customers on Angelina Lane, Rolling Woods Lane, Emerald Terrace, Lake Point Drive, Elon Crest Drive, Williamstown Boulevard, and Hollingsworth Hills Avenue are currently under a boil water notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At one point over 60% of the traffic signals in Lakeland were out.  Many are back online but some are still without power.  Please be cautious on the streets and treat the downed signalized intersections like a four-way stop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solid Waste crews continue to concentrate on clearing debris from the main roads. There is a focus on the NW and SE areas of the City that have the most tree damage. The City\u2019s contract debris haulers have been mobilized and the City of Lakeland is getting debris sites ready.  These are FEMA contractors so we must adhere to the FEMA rules with debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n