Aventura Mall
aloft Hotel
The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club
Serving Aventura, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor, Golden Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside
City of Aventura
www.communitynewspapers.com
June 24 - 30, 2009
FPL's Aletha Player advises on hurricane preparedness efficient every day, but no utility can ever be 100 percent storm-proof. With the season of hurricane winds Therefore, the goal of our in the wings, Florida Power & Light strengthening work is to Company encourages Floridians to be increase the resiliency prepared. of the system and While everyone hopes storms reduce the time it takes will bypass the state this year, there is to restore power when no guarantee, and it makes sense to an outage occurs. Our prepare ahead of time, says Aletha ongoing investments in Player, FPL's Miami-Dade manager of storm readiness also help external affairs. to improve reliability year"We're investing to make our infraround. " structure stronger, more reliable and more Aletha Player, manager Furthermore, she of external affairs in Miami-Dade County, says, "FPL has a plan and we Florida Power & Light want to make sure that our Company customers do too. This is particularly important if you FPL is investing to make its infrastructure stronger every day. In 2009, FPL plans to strengthen FPL crews install a new 70-foot concrete have a family member who is reliant power lines serving 26 hospitals, 18 acute medical care facilities, 35 emergency (911) facilities, pole designed to withemergency operations center, two police stations, one fire station, 40 major highway on power for medical equipment, such one stand winds of approxcrossings, and 11 power lines running along main thoroughfares imately 145 miles per as a ventilator. Either develop a plan hour as part of a 141Also, she says, never refuel a generator while to tap a back-up power supply, or clear the way to pole hardening project at Westchester it's still running or hot. "Hot parts or exhaust can relocate anyone who requires power to sustain life General Hospital in ignite gasoline," Player says. "Also, disconnect Miami. The hospital is functions." one of 80 critical infraOther storm prep basics include ensuring you appliances before starting or restarting a generator. structure facilities around the state that have the supplies you need to be self-sufficient for Then reconnect them one at a time to make sure FPL plans to strength3-14 days. This includes water, canned goods and you don't exceed the rated wattage." en this year Player says that it is smart to pay attention to batteries. A battery-operated radio may be the only way you will receive information in the event of a potential water leaks in the home. "Leaks can result in water coming in contact with electrical power outage. FPL recommends setting refrigerators and wiring," she explains. "If you have any doubt, call freezers to their coldest settings to keep food as a licensed electrician." In fact, FPL technicians say before power can fresh as long as possible if it looks like a power be safely restored to some homes, a licensed outage is likely. "If you plan to use a portable generator as an electrician may have to make necessary repairs if a alternate power source," Player says, "be careful, meter, external pipes or meter wires are missing, because they produce potentially deadly fumes. bent or broken. Report fallen power lines, by calling 911 or They should never be run indoors, in a garage or 1-800-4OUTAGE. "Don't ever touch them," she near an open window." Don't connect generators directly to your warns. "Consider any power line energized." More breaker either, she adds. "That produces a back- safety tips and additional information are available online at FPL.com/storm feed into utility lines, which can be dangerous." BY LYNN CARROLL