FPL helps restore power to customers in heavily flooded and tree-damaged path of Hurricane Irene

FPL continues to support Delmarva Power's local recovery efforts in Delaware following Hurricane Irene. FPL has deployed 160 employees and contractors to help in the restoration effort, by clearing vegetation and hanging new power lines.

In the second installment of FPL’s blogs from the field, FPL lineperson Khristal Hunter shares her experience traveling out of state with FPL crews to help restore power to customers impacted by a major weather event. Khristal was interviewed about her first few days cleaning up the aftermath of Hurricane Irene while she and the rest of her crew were en route to a restoration site this morning in Newark, Del.

Q: How are you? What type of damage are you seeing up in Delaware?

A: It's going well, we are making progress. We're seeing a lot of trees on wires, but once our vegetation management crews remove the debris, we are able to get in there and set fuses again to get the power back on. It's always a good feeling whenever you restore power, I don't care how many times it happens.

Most of the damage that we're seeing is tree-related, but there is quite a bit of flooding too. The big difference I've noted, coming from Broward County, is all the space between the houses and the distance from the road carrying the power to the actual residence -- houses are set back so far from the road. In some cases, the homeowners probably don't even know we're out in front of their home! Now, that's different!

Q: While female crew members are a minority, you are the only female linesperson in FPL's restoration team up there in Delaware. What's that like?

A: It's fine. The guys are great.

Q: Are you seeing very many customers? What's the reaction been?

A: As I described, the neighborhoods that we are working in are so different from what I'm used to seeing in Florida that we aren't seeing as many customers. But as cars drive by and see us working out in the road, they are waving to us and giving us the thumbs-up.

Q: What else is different from working there versus here?

A: You know, while the destruction of Hurricane Irene is certainly different from what we see day to day in Florida, the biggest difference is the temperature! Sure, it's warm here, but it's way cooler than it is in Miami today! That's a nice change.

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to say or add?

A: Just that I'm proud to be a part of this team and we are very glad to help Delaware. Oh, and hi, mom!

To check out Khristal and her fellow crew members at work today, and for more of FPL's Hurricane Irene restoration images, videos, and real-time updates on FPL's assistance following Hurricane Irene, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/fplstorm, http://www.facebook.com/FPLConnect and http://www.twitter.com/insideFPL

Media Contact:
Sandra Fine
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
3055670535