As of around 11:00 p.m. Thursday evening, more than 2.6 million utility customers in Florida remain without power, a decrease from the over 3.3 million reported earlier in the day, according to PowerOutage.us.
The most heavily impacted area is Highlands County in central Florida, where over 88% of customers are currently experiencing power outages. Along the state's Gulf Coast, a significant number of households and businesses are also in the dark, with more than 70% of customers without power in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa.
Hardee, Manatee, and Sarasota counties are also facing substantial outages, as reported by PowerOutage.us.
The outages are a result of severe storms that have swept through the region, causing widespread damage to power lines and infrastructure. Utility companies are working diligently to restore power to affected areas, but the process may take some time due to the extent of the damage.
Residents are advised to stay safe and patient as crews work to repair the power grid. It is essential to follow any safety guidelines provided by local authorities and utility companies during this time.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the outages, and we hope for a swift recovery for the impacted communities.
