The latest: Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has restored power to more than 589,000 customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm that created outages across FPL's service territory and the Southeast United States. Crews continue to work around-the-clock in the hardest hit areas and will not stop until every customer is restored.

Why it matters: FPL's systems held up well during Hurricane Helene, enabling crews to get the lights back on for 85% of impacted customers within 12 hours. In areas with flooding and heavy vegetation damage, restoration is expected to take longer as crews must wait for the water to recede and debris to clear before they can restore power. Customers should remain vigilant of potentially dangerous conditions, including downed power lines and trees toppled by the hurricane's destructive winds and flooding.

By the numbers as of 6 p.m.:

• More than 589,000 customers restored.
• Approximately 100,000 customers without power.
• More than 140,000 outages avoided due to FPL's smart grid technology.

Restoration estimates: FPL understands the importance of knowing when power will be restored - the company is committed to providing the following best estimates for restoration:

Click here to view a map of estimated restoration times.

Some homes and businesses may have suffered damage that makes them unable to safely accept power. Customers who notice damage need to contact a licensed electrician prior to power being restored.

A word from FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel:

"We have restored power to 85% of our customers impacted by Helene, but our work is not done. We are committed to getting the lights back on. Our crews will work around the clock because our job is not done until every customer has power."

What FPL is doing:

• Restoring power as part of its around-the-clock restoration efforts and converging crews to the hardest hit areas.
• Continuing to assess damage, including using drones to speed restoration.
• Coordinating with local emergency management officials to clear roads for lineworkers.

What customers should do after the storm:

• Safety is FPL's top priority for its crews and customers. Even when the winds subside, conditions can be dangerous. Customers should continue to heed warnings from local emergency officials.
• Stay far away from downed power lines, flooding and debris; assume that lines are energized.
• Use extreme caution while driving. Power interruptions may cause traffic signals to stop working without warning. If you come to an intersection with a non-working traffic signal, Florida law requires that you treat it as a four-way stop.
• If you are using a portable generator, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper use. Never operate a generator inside your home or garage.
• Immediately after a storm, FPL knows where power is out, so there is no need to contact FPL unless your neighbors have power and you do not.
• If customers encounter dangerous situations such as downed power lines or sparking electrical equipment, they should call 911 or 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243).

How customers can stay connecte:news media and th

FPL communicates restoration information to customers frequently through the e following resources:

• FPL website: FPL.com
• X: X.com/insideFPL
• Facebook: facebook.com/FPLconnect
• FPL Power Tracker: FPL.com/powertracker
• FPL Power Tracker (Northwest Florida): FPL.com/mypowertracker
• FPL app: Download from the App Store or Google Play, or text the word "App" to MyFPL (69375)

Visuals to download:

• FPL Newsroom Digital Library

How to reach us:

• 561-694-4442
• Media.relations@fpl.com
• @FPL_Newsroom

Additional resources:

• Please stay safe after the storm
• How to recognize FPL workers
• How to stay informed