Florida’s Coastal Electrical Distributors Respond To Hurricane Frances

Just weeks after Hurricane Charley hit Florida’s Gulf Coast, several electrical distributors are rushing to get their operations up and running on the East Coast of Florida.

Hurricane Frances, a Category 2 hurricane, struck the coasts of Florida and Georgia last weekend, downing power lines and leaving millions of people without power. When it hit West Palm Beach, the storm destroyed the homes of two World Electric Supply of Florida employees and damaged World Electric Supply’s branch.

“The roof caved in certain areas and all the offices are destroyed and flooded,” said Billy Olson, vice president of World Electric/Sonepar USA. Olson said it could be a while before World Electric is able to get the branch back up and running since it is operating without gas and electricity.

The Hughes Supply branch in Pompano Beach, Fla., is operating with only three of 17 incoming telephone lines. The company was able to send and receive faxes one day this week, but a day later the company had no faxes at all.

“It’s really killing our business right now because customers have a hard time getting through to us to do anything,” said Dennis Meads, the location’s branch manager.

While communication has been tough, Meads said the branch has been able to supply many of its customers, including Florida Power & Light. On Sept. 6, Hughes Supply shipped three truckloads of material to FP&L in Miami and Jupiter, Fla. Hughes is also working with Freeport Power Co., an electric utility, to supply its needs.

Meanwhile, Hughes Supply’s electrical and plumbing branch in West Palm Beach has no power and is working off three generators, said Meads. He did not know the status of Hughes Supply’s electrical and plumbing branch in Ft. Pierce, Fla., an area that was hit hard by the storm.