The latest: Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota County Wednesday night and tore across the state before exiting Florida's east coast Thursday morning. Thanks to the company's hardening and smart-grid investments and field teams working even as the storm hit, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has restored power to more than 730,000 customers. Lineworkers are now focusing on the areas hit hardest by the storm. While storm surge, flooding, downed trees and tornadoes are presenting restoration challenges, damage-assessment teams across the state are helping FPL to send the right personnel and right equipment to the right places to restore power safely and as quickly as possible.

Bigger picture: Hurricane Milton slammed Florida less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene battered the state. Lingering impacts from Helene and weeks of rain amplified Milton's impact on customers in the storm's direct path and those outside it.

By the numbers as of 2 p.m.:

• More than 730,000 customers restored
• Less than 1.1 million customers remain without power
• Restoration workforce of about 17,000 men and women from 41 states
• 30 staging, processing and parking sites

A word from FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel: "Our team is working around the clock and will continue to do so until we get every customer's lights back on. Initial assessments show our investments in hardening and smart-grid technology have made a big difference, enabling our crews to restore more than 730,000 customers within hours of the storm exiting the state. We have assembled and strategically positioned a restoration workforce of 17,000 men and women from 41 states to restore power as quickly as possible."

What FPL is doing:

• Restoring power as part of its around-the-clock restoration efforts.
• Continuing to assess damage, including using drones, to speed restoration.
• Coordinating with local emergency management officials to clear roads for lineworkers.
• Working to provide estimated times of restoration for customers. More information will be provided by Friday.

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.
• If customers have an emergency, call 911.
• If power goes out, FPL is aware and has crews responding as long as it is safe to do so. However, customers can report a downed power line or sparking electrical equipment to FPL by calling 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243).

How customers can stay connected:

FPL communicates restoration information to customers frequently through the news media and the following resources:

• FPL website: FPL.com
• X: X.com/insideFPL
• Facebook: facebook.com/FPLconnect
• Instagram: Instagram.com/insidefpl
• 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
• X: @FPL_Newsroom

Additional resources:

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