After severe storms and a possible tornado tore through Tallahassee late Thursday into Friday, Kissimmee Utility Authority crews have deployed to the region to assist with power restoration. An estimated 66,000 customers there were without power as 12 counties in the Florida Panhandle are now under a state of emergency.
As part of KUA’s mutual-aid agreement with utilities across the nation, the utility sent 12 linemen and a convoy of vehicles to Tallahassee. The two crews who traveled from KUA include Jamie Boswell, Billy White, Kevon Mckinsey, Marcello McDonald, Riley Kruggel, Chad Acree, Anthony Alvarez, Miguel Rivera, Yiovannee Rivera, Lamont Simmons, Hunter Anastasio, and Lantz Trisler. The crews departed Kissimmee just after 1 p.m.
KUA will join visiting crews from seven other utilities, including crews from Louisiana, Alabama, and Jacksonville. KUA crews often deploy to other parts of the state and country to assist with power restoration efforts in the wake of hurricanes or other severe weather — KUA crews went to the Tallahassee area in October 2018 to help restore power after major Hurricane Michael ripped through the Panhandle.
