FirstEnergy crews assisting in power restoration efforts after Hurricane Milton found unexpected support from former customers now residing in Florida. As line workers and support personnel worked to restore power, they encountered familiar faces and voices.
In Daytona Beach, a former Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) customer originally from Cookstown, New Jersey, greeted the JCP&L team with humor as they repaired damaged wires. Meanwhile, Ohio Edison crews near St. Petersburg were cheered on by Ohio transplants with chants of “Go Guardians!”
These interactions provided comfort to both residents and workers amidst the challenging conditions.
Ed Cole, who moved from Toms River, New Jersey to Manatee County 28 years ago, shared his experiences with JCP&L workers in Sarasota. Reflecting on the hurricane’s impact, he said: “This hurricane was really bad for our region,” noting the destruction of barrier islands and inaccessible roads and beaches.
Cole compared Hurricane Milton to Hurricane Sandy in 2012 when his brother lost his home but his mother’s residence remained unaffected due to its elevation. He described the experience of losing power during Milton as harrowing: “When the back side of the eye hit… it was horrific.”
Despite these challenges, Cole expressed relief at seeing JCP&L working to restore electricity after enduring two days without power.
Dennis Pavaghadi, a FirstEnergy operations director overseeing 580 utility workers, highlighted the hospitality shown by locals during their nearly three-week mission across Georgia and Florida. “People return home for the first time… but they still take the time to thank our crews,” he noted.
FirstEnergy participates in mutual assistance groups that facilitate resource sharing among utilities during large-scale outages. The company has received recognition for its efforts through multiple Edison Electric Institute “Emergency Assistance Awards.”
For about ten days, FirstEnergy personnel aided Duke Energy and Florida Power & Light in restoring services disrupted by Hurricane Milton. Pavaghadi emphasized the importance of mutual assistance within the industry: “No individual company has the resources…to face catastrophic damage like what occurred in Florida.”
