Jeanne Setting up a bad scenario (Please comment)

#1 Postby **seahawkjd** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:43 am

First Ivan goes into Mobile - New Orleans and I pray that people have gotten out of those areas. Then its going to dump tons of rain in the mountains which will flood down river in areas that are already at flood stage. Then Jeanne comes in and dumps more rain probably in the Carolinas or God forbid brings another hit to Florida. On top of that, what about this?

As I understand it, the power companies have agreements that they go and help out after disasters such as hurricanes so they're all heading south right now. If Jeanne hits NC, VA, somewhere around there after a certain number of days by their contract they have to move and help that area. An exec told me this a couple years back when a storm was going to hit NC and then another one looked like it was going to slam into the Gulf States. So, we could have a disaster in the Gulf states that is exasperated by a shortage of power workers because they have to head north by contract to handle another disaster.

Thoughts? Am I way off?

gtalum · #2 Postby **gtalum** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:47 am

I can't speak for the Carolinas or Louisiana, but in Florida the power companies have deals with power companies in nearly every one of the 48 contiguous states. I can only assume that Louisiana and the Carolinas are the same. While it would tax the system, I don't think there will be an extreme shortage of electrical line workers even in your scenario. They'll just bring in more workers from as yet untapped states like California. In case you're wondering, I just heard this exact information about Florida's power companies from Governor Bush on the radio yesterday.

Lebowsky · #3 Postby **Lebowsky** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:48 am

The Palm Beach Post is reporting that power workers are already leaving that area (even though a lot of residents still have no power) and heading for Ivan territory.

So yes there is a possibility of a cluster**** in the making.

wxwatcher2 · #4 Postby **wxwatcher2** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:50 am

cluster**** i don't understand the terminology.
you mean a clustering of power trucks in an area that needs them and then they aren't home to take care of their own?

Shullate · #5 Postby **Shullate** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:52 am

Cl*sterf*ck
Would you like to buy a vowel?

#6 Postby **jlauderdal** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:52 am

gtalum wrote:I can't speak for the Carolinas or Louisiana, but in Florida the power companies have deals with power companies in nearly every one of the 48 contiguous states. I can only assume that Louisiana and the Carolinas are the same. While it would tax the system, I don't think there will be an extreme shortage of electrical line workers even in your scenario. They'll just bring in more workers from as yet untapped states like California. In case you're wondering, I just heard this exact information about Florida's power companies from Governor Bush on the radio yesterday.

ic an tell you i have seen trucks from power comapnies in at least 20 different states down here. A co-worker of mine had a tree cutting crew from south carlolina and power restoration crew from kentucky.

Andy_L · #7 Postby **Andy_L** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:53 am

just to give you an idea of how far away power workers come in a situation like this....you have CANADIAN power workers in Florida helping out

gtalum · #8 Postby **gtalum** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:56 am

Also remember the power company has a very strong incentive to get your power working again after a storm: when your power's out, they don't make any money from you. :lol:

Lebowsky · #9 Postby **Lebowsky** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:56 am

My parents in WPB still don't have power after 12 days, and FPL is sending resources to Ivan.

As far as I'm concerned they have failed miserably, and the top level of management needs to be replaced. It's ridiculous that the only damage my folks suffered was a few roof shingles flying off and almost two weeks later they are without power.

I don't know about the other power companies, but do NOT trust FP&L or believe anything they say, they are miserable incompent liars.

huricanwatcher · #10 Postby **huricanwatcher** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:57 am

hahahahahaha..... cluster**** .... i deal with them on a daily basis......... (work I mean)

Josephine96 · #11 Postby **Josephine96** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:58 am

LOL about buying a vowel..

I also think the power companies have failed miserably.. I was 1 of the last people to get mine back after Charley and every other company had theirs restored..

#12 Postby **seahawkjd** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:59 am

So we're looking at having potentially power workers trying to rebuild a grid in Louisiana and Alabama, finishing up Florida, and then having to handle the Carolinas because of flooding in the west and hurricane damage in the East. Wonderful.......

#13 Postby **jlauderdal** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:59 am

Lebowsky wrote:My parents in WPB still don't have power after 12 days, and FPL is sending resources to Ivan.

As far as I'm concerned they have failed miserably, and the top level of management needs to be replaced. It's ridiculous that the only damage my folks suffered was a few roof shingles flying off and almost two weeks later they are without power.

I don't know about the other power companies, but do NOT trust FP&L or believe anything they say, they are miserable incompent liars.

sorry about your parents but roof shingles and power grids have nothing to do with each other. FPL wants the juice on asap to get the meters turning. hurricanes are a fact of life in florida and we are all going to have to live with it or move. I think FPL has done a great job considering the pressure they are under.

Lebowsky · #14 Postby **Lebowsky** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:02 am

FPL should have been better prepared for this storm. With any luck the company will go bankrupt and a better company take its place.

I will never forgive them for what they have done, never.

#15 Postby **seahawkjd** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:05 am

Please don't turn this into a rant against FPL. I wanted honest feedback on if this scenario is going to occur / is likely. Would appreciate some feeback.

#16 Postby **jlauderdal** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:06 am

Lebowsky wrote:FPL should have been better prepared for this storm. With any luck the company will go bankrupt and a better company take its place.

I will never forgive them for what they have done, never.

and how exactly are they suppose to prepare? furthermore the last think you want is a bankrupt power company.

Shullate · #17 Postby **Shullate** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:23 am

At some point, the problem can't be fixed with just more line workers. How much equiptment is stockpiled? How many spare transformers are around?

With the number of strong storms hitting this year we may start running into those kind of problems.

#18 Postby **seahawkjd** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:24 am

Please don't turn this into a rant against FPL. I wanted honest feedback on if this scenario is going to occur / is likely. Would appreciate some feeback.

Rainband · #19 Postby **Rainband** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:25 am

Lebowsky wrote:FPL should have been better prepared for this storm. With any luck the company will go bankrupt and a better company take its place.

I will never forgive them for what they have done, never.

I am sorry they did a great job in MHO. They lost one of the metter readers when a tree limb crushed him. The guy didn't even have to be there but he was working extra to get power restored. Please have some respect.

ColdWaterConch · #20 Postby **ColdWaterConch** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:27 am

I would worry about a shortage of materials before a shortage of people. If nec, these companies will ask for help from any company in the USA.

However, there comes a time when the grid is stretched to its breaking point...another severe weather event in the SE could do that.

Jeanne Setting up a bad scenario (Please comment)

Jeanne Setting up a bad scenario (Please comment)

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