EREC Completes Power Restoration Nine Days After Hurricane Isaias

Escambia River Electric Cooperative says power restoration from Hurricane Isaias is complete after crews spent more than a week rebuilding damaged portions of the electrical system.

The cooperative completed restoration Sunday night.

Hurricane Isaias initially knocked out electricity to approximately 95 percent of EREC members in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Restoration in Escambia County was largely completed earlier in the recovery, while crews faced more extensive damage in portions of Santa Rosa County.

Hundreds of additional workers and pieces of equipment were brought into the area to help restore the system.

EREC's offices in Jay and Walnut Hill are also reopening Monday for the first time since the hurricane.

The cooperative is warning residents that damaged poles, wires and other electrical equipment may remain along roads and rights-of-way even though service has been restored. Crews will return to remove that equipment, and residents should not touch it.

Florida Power & Light was also nearing the end of its restoration effort over the weekend.

Late Sunday, FPL's outage system showed only a few dozen remaining outages across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Some remaining outages may involve homes or businesses that cannot safely be reconnected until privately owned electrical equipment damaged during the hurricane is repaired.