PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - Thousands of South Florida residents are still without power, in the aftermath of Irma. Florida Power and Light is now working overtime to ensure their customers are back to normal as soon as possible.
Three cracked power poles on Hiatus Road, between Pines Boulevard and Pembroke Road, continue to leave an entire neighborhood in the dark.
“It’s tough,” said one resident, Yesenia Vega. “We’re not used to this. It’s different. It’s hard.”
Hurricane Irma knocked out electricity to nearly 2 million residents and business owners — all wanting to know when their lights will be turned back on.
“Along the eastern sea board, if you will, the eastern portion of our territory — we expect to be essentially restored for all customers by the end of this coming weekend,” said FPL official, Rob Gould.
Another home in Pembroke Pines had a powerline blow out, seconds after it was restored. “The powerline pops, and then ‘boom,’ I get my son and I push him out the way, and then here comes the powerline coming right at me,” said Carlos, a local homeowner.
According to FPL officials, before their power crews attempt another reconnection, they want trees trimmed back. Their crews had already done that, two weeks prior to the storm, but somehow their customers are without power once again.
“We have to resubmit another ticket,” said Carlos. “That can take a couple days – another couple days. But you’re here. You’re here.”
“We just went through the biggest storm we’ve ever seen,” said FPL CEO and President Eric Silagy. “Give us a little time. We’re going to be doing this day in and day out and I know it’s hard. I know it’s difficult, but we’re not going to quit until the job is done.”
FPL made billions of dollars in upgrades since hurricane Wilma in 2005. That investment is now being put to the test.
7Skyforce HD flew over hundreds of trucks in a staging area at Gulf Stream Park.
From Broward County to Miami-Dade, FPL is working with its partners across the country to make up a workforce of 20,000.
The goal is to restore power to the most people in the shortest amount of time. “Our estimate shows that we should be on track to get essentially all our customers back on power by the end of this weekend,” said one FPL worker.
For Carlos and his neighbors, who are still in the dark, the wait continues.
“I mean, without the power, all these generators running all day long — it’s a little nerve-wracking,” said another concerned resident, Juan Carlos.
FPL officials want to remind the public to not let anyone come into their home, as posers have been trying to take advantage of residents without power.
Related links: How to tell whether someone works for FPL or not
If in doubt, FPL workers will always carry personal identification and have FPL logos on their trucks.
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