TAMPA, Fla. — Power restoration efforts are still underway for Duke Energy customers in the Tampa Bay area following impacts from Hurricane Debby.
In a news release from Tuesday morning, the organization restored 90% of its customers within 24 hours after the storm made landfall in the Big Bend.
"Crews continue to work tirelessly to restore power in areas hardest hit, and the company will not stop until every customer has power," Duke Energy said in a statement.
As of around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, there are over 20,000 Duke customers without power out of more than 2 million that are tracked, according to PowerOutage.us.
For Tampa Bay-area counties, the website shows Pinellas and Pasco County with the most amount of customers still without power. Pinellas is showing over 1,300 customers don't have power restored, while Pasco shows 94 are without power.
Duke Energy Florida says 95% of customers in Citrus and Hernando counties should be back with power by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, but explains many customers will be restored by then. PowerOutage.us shows there are 60 customers without power from both counties combined.
The estimated time of restoration for 95% of the remaining customers in harder-hit areas is 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
Duke says those hardest hit areas include:
- Alachua County
- Columbia County
- Dixie County
- Gilchrist County
- Hamilton County
- Jefferson County
- Lafayette County
- Madison County
- Suwannee County
- Taylor County
- Wakulla County
The company is reminding customers it cannot reconnect power until the electrical system has been inspected by a licensed electrician. If it's damaged, the electrician will make repairs and verify with the local building inspection authority before restoring power.
If your home's meter box is pulled away from the house or mobile home service pole and power is not being received, Duke says you are responsible for contacting an electrician to reattach the meter box and/or provide a permanent fix.
Company leaders are reminding customers to stay away from fallen or sagging power lines and to consider them and anything touching them energized and dangerous.
In the case that a power line falls on your vehicle, officials say to stay in the car. If you have to get out of it due to a life-threatening situation, try your best to jump clear of the vehicle and make sure to land on both feet.
If you have a generator, the organization recommends turning it off then utility crews arrive in your area. The electrical load can be dangerous for them as they make repairs, possibly causing injury.
If you are a Duke Energy Florida customer, you can check outages in your area by clicking or tapping here.