Central Florida Electric Cooperative Mobilizes in Response to Hurricane Debby

Chiefland, FL - (August 5, 2024) Hurricane Debby made landfall on Florida's Big Bend at 7 a.m. this morning as a Category 1 hurricane – bringing with it 80 mph winds, dangerous storm surge, and major flooding, resulting in widespread power outages across the CFEC service area.CFEC has swiftly mobilized in response to Hurricane Debby, now that it is safe to do so. We have deployed a total of 66 crews across our service area to assess damage, clear trees and debris, and begin widespread restoration efforts. This includes in-house CFEC crews, contract crews, and mutual aid crews working together to restore power as quickly as possible. Additionally, 12 specialized crews are focused on assessing and repairing any damage to our fiber network. In total, we have over 382 sets of boots on the ground, evenly distributed throughout affected areas, working to restore power. We are also continuing to work closely with First Responders and Emergency Management throughout our service territory to ensure all restoration is completed as safely and efficiently as possible.At the peak of the storm, approximately 21,049 CFEC meters were without power. Since our crews were able to safely begin their work this morning, they have been able to restore over 6,849 of those affected. Crews will continue to work until every affected member is restored to full service.

• We expect we will be fully restored in Levy and Gilchrist Counties by 9 p.m. tomorrow evening (08/06).
• Dixie County received the hardest blow from Debby, and as a result, has more extensive damage leading to slightly longer restoration times. Despite this, we expect we will be fully restored in Dixie County by noon on Wednesday (08/07).

Full restoration is considered to be met when all affected meters have been restored, excluding those that are currently unable to receive power due to flooding or other circumstances or have extenuating damages that will take ongoing coordination to repair. Debby also impacted our fiber network, resulting in 3,200 fiber outages. However, many of these outages may be due to power loss rather than actual damage to the fiber network. As power restoration progresses, we will gain a clearer understanding of the actual impact on our fiber network. Once power is fully restored, we will provide updated information and begin focused restoration efforts on the fiber side. We're deeply grateful for the outpouring of support our members have shown for our employees and the crews who have come from other areas to lend a hand. To those still waiting for the lights to come back on, please know that even if you don't see trucks working on your street, our crews are working tirelessly to restore power to every single Central Florida Electric member.We appreciate your patience as we work to get the power back on in the community we all call home. Rest assured, we are doing everything in our power to get the job done as quickly and safely as possible. Members can continue to receive updates on our restoration efforts post-Debby through the Central Florida Electric Cooperative, Inc. Facebook page and www.cfec.com.