Power is slowly returning to Manatee and Sarasota counties in southwest Florida, but the electrical grid won’t get to 95 percent restoration until the end of next week, FPL said.
As of 8:30 a.m. Saturday, about 42%, or about 110,000 customers in Manatee County, remained without power, according to Find Energy. That’s a significant decrease from 80% on Thursday, the first day after Hurricane Milton slammed the Gulf Coast Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm packing 120 mph winds.
More than 105,000 of those affected are customers of Florida Power & Light, the Juno Beach-based utility in Palm Beach County. The remaining are served by Peace River Electric.
In neighboring Sarasota County — where Hurricane Milton made landfall, slamming into Siesta Key, a barrier island off Sarasota — about 30%, or about 90,000 FPL customers, are without power, a slight decrease from Friday’s 46%.
FPL says it aims to restore 95% of power to Manatee and Sarasota counties by Thursday, Oct. 17. The utility did not indicate when the remaining 5 percent in the two counties would have their power restored.
– Milena Malaver
Mobile food bank continues
With over 100,000 people in Manatee County still in the dark after Hurricane Milton, Feeding Tampa Bay will be back in the area on Saturday to help bring food to residents.
The food bank will serve ready-to-eat meals and water from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palmetto Boys and Girls Club at 1600 10th St. W.
The Hope Bus will also be at New College, 5845 General Dougher Place in Sarasota, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to provide essential supplies to those impacted by Hurricane Milton.
The Hope Bus is a service of Hope Florida, an organization that combines non-profit, government and faith-based groups. Hope Navigators and volunteers are on-site after storms to distribute needed supplies such as food, water, baby supplies, cleaning supplies and offer other services.
– Michael Moore
