Impact to Service Area Likely
Marianna, Florida – Florida Public Utilities Company (FPU), a subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, is monitoring Tropical Storm Helene and is prepared to respond in the likely event the storm impacts the Company’s service areas.
The Company has adjusted staffing levels and is prepared to respond to any potential service interruptions that may result from heavy rain and high wind gusts.
FPU customers should report service interruptions or gas emergencies by calling 1.800.427.7712 or online at www.FPUC.com/ReportOutage. For storm updates and additional safety information, please visit www.fpuc.com/stormupdate.
We urge customers to stay safe and heed instructions from emergency management, local and state officials.
Following are some additional safety instructions to keep in mind leading up to the storm:
- Please leave the area and call 911 or FPU immediately if:
- You discover a downed electric wire or power line. Always assume it is energized (and therefore dangerous), and stay as far away as possible. NEVER TOUCH a downed power line or any telephone cable wires in close proximity.
- You smell a distinct rotten egg odor.
- A gas pipeline or power line is damaged in any way, or any part of your energy service/system is visibly compromised.
- Only use generators outdoors and away from all doors, windows and vents. Do not connect portable generators director to a breaker panel, fuse box or meter box; it creates a hazard for utility line workers.
- It is imperative that customers who rely on critical medical equipment take necessary precautions to prepare for the storm in the event of an outage or mandatory evacuation.
Restoration
Should restoration of electric service be necessary, FPU’s restoration plan calls for reestablishing service to the greatest number of customers as quickly and safely as possible concurrent with the restoration of a community’s critical infrastructure. The speed of restoration is based on the path of the storm, its intensity and the amount of resources available. FPU works with emergency management officials to restore power first to public health and safety facilities and organizations, such as hospitals, police and fire departments, communications, water and sanitary services and transportation.
As the storm approaches, our crews will halt work if winds exceed 40 mph. After the storm, FPU crews will evaluate the damage and prioritize safety while working to restore service as quickly as possible. The assessment and restoration process will commence when it is safe to do so, after sustained winds have decreased to less than 40 mph.
Now is the time to prepare. For hurricane status updates and additional safety information, please visit www.fpuc.com/stormupdate. New status updates will be posted as information becomes available.
About Florida Public Utilities Company
Florida Public Utilities Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK). Headquartered in Yulee, Florida, FPU distributes natural gas and propane and provides electric services to approximately 150,000 customers in markets throughout Florida. For more information, visit www.fpuc.com.
About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CPK). Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions, and other businesses.
Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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Media contact:
Brianna Patterson
Manager, Public Relations and Strategic Communications
419-314-1233
[email protected]
