EPIC failure by Tampa Bay area utility companies (Clearwater, Hernando: homes, living)

[KenFL]

TECO seems to have responded better than Duke. My power was restored Tuesday evening. Many of my friends never lost power in Tampa and many others had it restored by Tuesday evening.


TECO says the power to our office in Drew Park will be restored by Sunday. That makes a bit of sense as people in neighbors consisting of many residential houses would get power first to save their food...


It depends on the neighborhood, it seems and possibly the degree of work needed to restore. Some repairs are easier than others. Get the easy ones done first makes sense.


Restaurants that lost power and had no generator have a bunch of questionable food as it doesn't take long for food to spoil... Personally, I don't want food that may have gotten too warm and I don't think the Health Dept. would want that food to be sold either...


I hope that your power is restored soon.

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by BucFan

People who are flexible with travel and could evac (me next time) should probably wait 2 weeks before heading back so all of this can be worked out...gas stations, traffic all clears up days afterwards as well as electricity.

I completely agree. That's what my hurricane plan will be. Forget buying water and batteries. Get the heck outta dodge for two weeks minimum.

[Prost]

While I am very thankful all I have to complain about is no power (was resigned to returning to a home that was unlivable), I shudder to think what would have happened if we had a direct hit. What's worse is the street north and south of me have power since Monday, as does most of my street, except for the 100 yard section I'm in.

[bobandsherry]

I'm with TECO too and other than lights flickering several times, we were very fortunate the power never went out. This was expected to be a CAT4/5 storm, so not sure why so many were unprepared for what one could easily expect to be several days without power.

I have a generator and had enough fuel to run for almost 3 full days. Generator large enough to keep my refrigerator running plus power a portable A/C unit, fan, laptop, chargers for phones and TV/DVR (for entertainment).

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by bobandsherry

I'm with TECO too and other than lights flickering several times, we were very fortunate the power never went out. This was expected to be a CAT4/5 storm, so not sure why so many were unprepared for what one could easily expect to be several days without power.

I have a generator and had enough fuel to run for almost 3 full days. Generator large enough to keep my refrigerator running plus power a portable A/C unit, fan, laptop, chargers for phones and TV/DVR (for entertainment).

Yet it was nowhere near a Cat 4/5 storm. Yet we still have hundreds of thousands without power. Unacceptable.

[Badbird2000]

I lived in Tampa area 35 years, moved away in 2008. I went thru several hurricanes in 2003-4, never lost power. My parents live in Brandon area, they lost power for 2 weeks. They have been without power since Saturday night. A co-worker I work with here in east Tennessee has a son in law that is a lineman in South Carolina, he left Sunday morning for Florida. They told him to expect to be gone 3 weeks. Those guys are working 16 hour days (or more). I think much of it depends on how much damage there is. I know right down the road from my parents neighborhood, poles are snapped in half and wires laying on the side of the road. That kind of damage takes time to repair.

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by sinatras

Yet it was nowhere near a Cat 4/5 storm. Yet we still have hundreds of thousands without power. Unacceptable.

I have power so it's a different perspective, but in NY it was a tropical storm and they had no power for a month.

[BucFan]

While doing errands today I saw a long brigade of TECO cranes/trucks lumbering along US 301, S. Hillsborough near Big Bend Road. I flashed w/ with my headlights and gave them thumbs up. They waved and I think appreciated the gesture like the calvary has come to save the day.....

[Pragmaticus]

Originally Posted by BucFan

Same here. Wonder if having underground utility lines has anything to do with it? Will have to use this as a selling point if I ever sell.

We lost power for about a second and that's it. My entire neighborhood did not loose power at all. But I know we are among the few lucky ones. Definitely, not flooding as much, reclaim water availability for your yard, great schools, and NOW having power during a hurricane is a great way to sell a house, when the time comes .

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by CSD610

OP, you can always go and volunteer your extensive knowledge and experience and show them how the job is done right.......

Repairing poles and providing electricity is what we pay TECO for. Too bad they suck at it.