OG&E’s team of more than 100 linemen and support staff returned home safely after a 7-day deployment to assist with power restoration efforts in Florida. Crews were deployed to help with the rebuilding and recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton caused widespread damage and power outages in Florida. 

The Category 3 storm brought destructive winds, tornadoes, and persistent flooding, impacting millions of homes and businesses on the state’s west coast. OG&E joined a restoration workforce of 20,000, from 41 states and Canada, helping to support the overall efforts to restore more than two million Floridians. 

OG&E crews worked 16-hour shifts rebuilding the grid and restoring power to Floridians in the Sarasota area. At the request of Florida Power & Light, the team also helped remove downed trees, clearing roadways and rights of way to allow safe access to critically damaged infrastructure. Additionally, fourteen OG&E underground crew members helped restore power in Largo, a coastal community that experienced substantial structural damage. 

“I’m encouraged and humbled by our crews’ hard work over the past week to restore power to communities impacted by Milton,” said Chris Bristol, OG&E Distribution Construction Manager. “Rebuilding and restoring power after a natural disaster of this scale is no small task – it takes a village, and we’re grateful to the Floridians who kept our teams’ morale high, bringing support and kindness as we worked to restore power to their communities as quickly and safely as possible.”