WASHINGTON — As Florida braces for the impact of Hurricane Milton, Pepco said Tuesday that crews were heading down south to help impacted Florida communities after the storm's path passes through the state.
Milton is expected to be Florida's second major hurricane within a period of two weeks, meteorologists have projected a storm surge in central Florida of up to 15 feet and winds over 120 mph.
Hurricane Helene, whose category four winds struck the Big Bend of Florida, the state's eastern gulf coast, also had a major impact on communities in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
On Tuesday, the DC-based power and electric company said its workers from the Forestville Service Center were heading to South Carolina to wait out the storm. The team of eight is made up of line workers, mechanics, and other support staff.
"Our crews will stage in South Carolina until the storm passes through Florida," Pepco spokesperson Chuck McDade said Tuesday. "We still have crews working in the Augusta, Ga. area helping to restore power after Helene impacts."
Pepco crews deploying south for storm support
Once the storm passes, the Pepco team will head to Florida to assist members of the Duke Energy crew.
More than 200 people were killed in the southeast by Hurricane Helene.
All major storm-tracking models have forecasted Milton to run a path through central Florida. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for major coastal cities like Tampa and Cape Coral.
On Tuesday, the storm was a major hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico, with meteorologists projecting that Milton would remain a category 3 or 4 as the storm is set to reach Florida's west coast Wednesday night.
