TAMPA, Fla. — Power outages throughout the St. Petersburg area are already being restored by Duke Energy crews as Hurricane Helene continues north, the utility provider said Thursday afternoon.
Around 42,000 structures have had their power restored as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the utility company said.
READ MORE: Hurricane Helene expected to cause widespread damage and power outages. Here's how to report it
Around 8,000 crews are staged around multiple locations throughout the state, including:
- St. Pete College – Tarpon Springs
- Tropicana Field
- Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport
- Jefferson County Greyhound Track
- Perry-Foley Airport
- Suwannee Valley Farmers Market
- The Villages
“We have already restored power while conditions have allowed us to do so. However, we have not seen the worst of this storm yet," said Duke Energy Storm Director Todd Fountain.
"We anticipate landfall will bring the most significant damage to our infrastructure in the Panhandle and Big Bend area that will likely cause extended outage durations. Please continue to prioritize your safety first.”
To report a power outage, residents can text "OUT" to 57801, call (800) 228-8485, or report online or through the mobile app.
Ahead of Helene's landfall, the Tampa Office of Emergency Management also opened storm damage and power outages reporting access to residents throughout the region.
Residents can report power outages, downed power lines, or other safety concerns in numerous ways, including calling (877) 588-1010, on the TECO Outage Map, and texting "OUT" to 27079.
Residents can also report fallen trees, traffic light outages, street flooding, and storm debris in the right of way by calling (813) 274-3101 or using the office's Resident Damage Self-Reporting Form by clicking here.
"Restoring power after a storm can be extremely challenging, as travel and work conditions may be impacted by high winds and widespread flooding," Duke Energy said. "For safety purposes, Duke Energy line technicians cannot perform elevated work in bucket trucks when winds are excessive. However, as the storm passes and wind speeds drop below 40 miles per hour, crews will quickly begin damage assessment and repairs, allowing them to determine estimated power restoration times."
