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Hurricane Milton Causes Historic Flooding in Lakeland

Staff Report / lakelandlocal.org

**Hurricane Milton Update - October 17, 2024**

Lakeland, FL – Lakeland Electric has reported that power restoration efforts are ongoing following Hurricane Milton. Power has been reinstated for customers who can safely receive it. However, ongoing clean-up efforts may lead to hanging tree limbs that could disrupt service and cause isolated outages.

Customers who have damaged electrical equipment or are experiencing flooding may not be able to receive power until floodwaters recede or their equipment is assessed and repaired by a qualified electrician. After repairs are made, residents should contact Lakeland Electric at 863-834-9535 to arrange for a safe reconnection of power.

The National Weather Service has classified Hurricane Milton's rainfall as a 1-in-1,000-year event, resulting in significant flooding across the Tampa Bay and Central Florida regions. Specifically, the Lakeland area received over 12 inches of rain in just 24 hours, heavily taxing the city’s stormwater system. All area lakes are currently flooded, making it challenging to manage flood conditions and reduce lake levels. Most drainage lakes, tributaries, and rivers remain at high levels due to the excessive rainfall experienced over the summer.

The City of Lakeland extends its gratitude to more than 500 mutual aid personnel from states including Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Alabama, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida for their assistance in power restoration efforts.

For more detailed information, residents can read the full press release at LakelandGov.net/MiltonUpdate101724.

Source: City of Lakeland, FL - Government | Facebook

Source Type: Gov

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Oct 17, 2024 at 10:52 AM

Gov