Panama City Beach, Fla. -
A Panama City Beach neighborhood gears up for the threat of severe weather. In Florida, it can strike at any time...which could leave families without power.
Gulf Power is working to strengthen its system for storms along North Lagoon Drive between Jay and Cypress streets. It's part of Gulf Power's storm hardening initiative.
Tracy Endsley can go without a car; she can even take some heat walking to and from work. But, there's one thing she can't go without, electricity. "We use power to make our breakfast in the morning. We use power for everything." Endsley says.
As Floridians, we face a harsh reality from time to time, when storms rip through our communities, leaving us without power.
Gulf Power is targeting wooden poles that line North Lagoon Drive--- they're being swapped out for something sturdier and better.
"What usually happens is debris hits them, they get flooded, debris hits them, and they break in half." So Gulf Power is changing out the old poles for taller, concrete ones, which district manager John McDanal says will give them a better chance at fighting Mother Nature.
"Everyone wouldn't be losing power, and we'd have to construct the whole grid again. We could be able to just put the wire back and continue on."
The project is expected to take three to four months. Due to the work, minimal power outages and road closures are expected to keep workers and residents safe.
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