Hurricane Milton Threatens Florida's Power Supply

Hurricane Milton is projected to make landfall on Florida's West Coast late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, posing significant risks as a major hurricane. The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings about the storm's intensity and potential impacts on local communities and power grids, particularly Tampa Electric, which serves over 800,000 customers. CEO Archie Collins highlighted the company's annual hurricane preparedness efforts, including the deployment of nearly 5,800 utility workers from across the U.S. to assist in recovery efforts post-storm. Tampa Electric's grid is equipped with robust infrastructure, with 52% of its distribution lines located underground, a crucial factor in storm resilience. However, Collins also acknowledged the ongoing industry-wide transformer shortage exacerbated by supply chain issues, which could delay restoration efforts in the event of significant damage. Key to minimizing impacts is the storm's exact landfall location; a northward track could lead to damaging surges, while a southern landfall might result in primarily wind-related challenges. Preparations remain a priority as Florida braces itself for what could be an unprecedented event, given the historical context of recent hurricanes that have impacted the region.