4 Things to Know as We Enter the Heart of Hurricane Season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) anticipates upwards of 18 named storms this season, 5-9 of which are expected to become hurricanes, meaning we can expect multiple major storms before the season ends on November 30. As we move into the most active phase of hurricane season, it’s critical to make sure you are prepared, for the sake of your crew, your family and your community. Follow these three important steps: 

  1. Keep debris piles away from any utility structures such as boxes, pedestals, poles and transformers. Equipment used to pick up storm debris can pull up these structures and their buried utility lines.

  2. Debris from the storm can easily conceal buried utility lines. If you need to dig, call 811 to secure a locate. It’s still the law, even in an emergency.  

  3. Don’t cut above-ground lines running through trees or on the ground for quick cleanup. They could still be live! 

  4. Familiarize yourself with extraordinary circumstances protocol. Extraordinary circumstances provide member utilities additional time to locate and mark underground facilities, but it does not relieve excavators from contacting 811. You still need to contact 811 before you dig. 

For utility members: Members can declare and rescind Extraordinary Circumstances by phone, email or webform.  

  • PHONE: (386) 575-2000, option #3

  • EMAIL: [email protected] Email message must include your member number, declaration date and estimated rescind date. 

  • Sunshine 811 does not process extraordinary circumstance declarations after hours, on weekends or after a hurricane warning is declared for Volusia County.

For excavators: Members may still be able to locate, mark and update their positive responses. Excavators should continue to follow normal procedures and avoid any digging until all utilities have been cleared, located and marked, or the legal timeframe has expired (whichever occurs first).  

  • There is no time limit on extraordinary circumstances. If there is no response from the member after their legal timeframe to respond, you can treat it the same as a non-response. See Section 556.105(6) for further guidance.

 
 
Kristen Bechir