Thousands of residents in Northeast Florida faced power outages on Sunday morning, impacting their ability to heat their homes amid a severe cold snap. Clay Electric reported nearly 700 customers affected, primarily due to falling tree limbs caused by freezing conditions.
Notable outages were reported in Fleming Island, where issues arose off U.S. 17, and in the Doctors Lake area, affecting locations between U.S. 301 and County Road 200A. The most significant disruption occurred in Keystone Heights, with over 400 customers losing power.
Clay Electric’s spokesperson Nick Jones stated that while the frigid temperatures posed challenges, crews were diligently working to restore service. He emphasized that as temperatures began to rise, conditions were improving, with lineworkers prioritized to tackle outages at critical facilities and larger groups.
Customers were reminded to report outages via their MyClayElectric accounts or by calling the outage line. They were also advised to exercise caution when using generators and space heaters.
In Jacksonville, utility JEA reported around 4,500 customers without power at 7 a.m., a number that decreased to approximately 2,500 by 8:15 a.m. Florida Power and Light experienced significant outages as well, impacting areas in Flagler, Nassau, and Columbia counties.
To assist those without power or heating, local authorities encouraged residents to seek shelter at warming centers. The City of Jacksonville activated its Warming Center Contingency Plan, which will remain in effect until Monday, February 2. The Legends Center at 5130 Soutel Drive in Jacksonville was open until noon on Sunday, with JTA buses providing free transportation to vulnerable residents from various stops in Duval County.
Residents utilizing the warming center were advised to bring essential items such as bedding, snacks, and hygiene products, while only service animals would be permitted.
The community is showing resilience in the face of this adversity, and with the combined efforts of utility crews and local authorities, there is hope that normalcy will return soon for those affected by the outages.