Alachua Honored for Hurricane Recovery Efforts with State Award

ALACHUA – The City of Alachua was recognized for its power restoration efforts during Florida’s destructive 2024 hurricane season, receiving the “Restoring Communities Award” from the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) in January.

The award, presented to 28 public power utilities across the state, honors utilities for restoring power after severe weather events and providing mutual aid to other communities.

“These awards follow an incredibly active and destructive hurricane season for Florida, with August’s Hurricane Debby, a Category 1 storm, and back-to-back major Hurricanes Helene and Milton causing widespread power outages within weeks of one another,” an FMEA representative said in a statement.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Sept. 26, 2024, knocking out power to approximately 1,500 electric customers in Alachua. City crews with the Electric Department began restoration efforts as soon as conditions were safe, fully restoring power to all customers—excluding those with property damage preventing service—within six days.

“Last year was a particularly rough hurricane season for Florida,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA executive director. “Millions of people and communities across the state were impacted, some without enough time to recover from the previous storm before the next one hit.”

Just one week after completing local restoration, the City of Alachua sent four electric line workers—Blake Cox, Kris Kadlec, Andy Lindsey and Matt Lynn—to assist with power restoration efforts in Mount Dora, Florida, following Hurricane Milton’s landfall in Central Florida.

“Despite one of the most powerful hurricane seasons to impact the Good Life Community and the state of Florida, none of this would have been possible without an immense group effort, especially including our Electric Department,” City Manager Mike DaRoza said. “They are always willing to lend a hand whenever and however they can.”

The City of Alachua operates one of Florida’s 33 public power utilities and regularly participates in mutual aid during emergencies, providing crews and resources to help neighboring communities restore essential services.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com