GRU strongly urges residents to prepare for TS Helene

Press release from Gainesville Regional Utilities

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville Regional Utilities is ready to respond to Tropical Storm Helene and urges customers to prepare for the storm’s arrival. The storm is expected to strengthen before landfall, becoming a major hurricane. Projections place Gainesville and Alachua County within the cone of probability.

General weather conditions in Alachua County are likely to deteriorate as early as Thursday morning. Best practices would have residents prepared before potential road hazards and high winds make travel of any kind unadvisable.

Depending on its path and strength at landfall, Helene is capable of causing widespread power outages and significant property damage. In addition, restoration may be hampered by flooding, downed trees, or other obstacles. Crews are prepared to work long hours after the storm passes, restoring service to customers as quickly and safely as possible. In addition to our GRU crews, GRU will be receiving mutual aid assistance from Texas-based Lubbock Power & Light and Davey Tree.

Once conditions are safe for crews to begin work, our first priorities for service restoration include hospitals, law enforcement, power plants, water plants, wastewater plants, lift stations, and fire stations. Our crews will then work to fix problems that will benefit the most people in the shortest amount of time.

Customers should report all power outages and downed power lines to 352-334-2871; water/wastewater emergencies to 352-334-2711; and natural gas emergencies to 352-334-2550. Follow @GRUStormCentral on X for the latest storm updates and visit gru.com/StormCentral to view our outage map. 

GRU is advising customers to take preparatory measures: 

• If you have special medical needs or life-sustaining equipment, make sure you have an evacuation plan in place prior to the onset of the storm. Call Alachua County Emergency Management at 352-264-6500 and visit floridadisaster.org for evacuation information.
• Ensure you have a complete emergency kit that includes first aid supplies, a battery-powered radio, tarps, batteries and flashlights, a three days’ supply of any needed prescription medicine, baby food and diapers, pet food, canned food, and drinking water (at least one gallon per person, per day).
• If you use a portable generator: DON’T run a generator in the house, DON’T run a generator in the garage, and DON’T plug a generator directly into a house’s main electrical system. The first two could lead to suffocation and the third could send an electrical charge back to the power grid, which would create an electrocution hazard for utility workers. DO set up generators outside in a well-ventilated area, and DO plug individual appliances directly into the generator.
• Prior to the storm, turn off or disconnect all outside electric appliances, such as pool pumps. If you plan to evacuate, turn off the main switch on your circuit breaker panel. Do not remove your electric meter.