More Weather Stories: Hurricane Safety: Protecting Your Fleet
Hurricane Ian: Work Vehicles Respond
Twitter users provide an up-close perspective to utility fleets’ preparations for cleanup, vocational fleets on the ready to respond, and organizations incurring damage to their own vehicles and property.
September 29, 2022
During natural disasters, drivers of work trucks and fleet vehicles must complete their duties while trying to protect their property and stay safe themselves.
Photo: Canva
3 min to read
As Hurricane Ian leaves parts of Florida devastated in its wake and continues to pummel the East Coast of the U.S., utilities, government agencies, trucking fleets, and other commercial entities are responding.
Twitter users have been providing an up-close perspective on how those entities are deploying work vehicles to protect people and property and take an active role in the cleanup.
Before the storm hit, utilities from states as far away as New York sent convoys to Florida to be ready to restore power as needed. Many tweets showed videos from the highway of trucks on the move.
Just saw a convoy of out of town utility trucks going down 75, presumably on their way to Florida in preparation for #HurricaneIan. ⛈ pic.twitter.com/vYlhIOaPNa
— BirdingPeepWx (@BirdingPeepWx) September 26, 2022
This Twitter user reported a traffic jam of trucks outside of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saw thousands of Line Workers and utility trucks headed down to Tampa Bay as we evacuated the other way. Thanks (in advance) to all these folks. #HurricaneIanpic.twitter.com/hp2Q9cdUAa
— tgirl trying not to be sarcastic (@tranewman) September 27, 2022
This user saw at least 100 trucks on I-95 on Tuesday.
Saw thousands of Line Workers and utility trucks headed down to Tampa Bay as we evacuated the other way. Thanks (in advance) to all these folks. #HurricaneIanpic.twitter.com/hp2Q9cdUAa
— tgirl trying not to be sarcastic (@tranewman) September 27, 2022
At one point, power restoration efforts were suspended as conditions were too dangerous to work. The Kissimmee Utility suspended operations at 5:29 on Wednesday.
We have suspended power restoration efforts because storm winds are too strong for our crews to work safely in our bucket trucks. Power will remain off in the affected areas until the winds subside and crews can safely respond.Crews will still respond to emergencies.#HurricaneIanpic.twitter.com/eKeJYZKiLk
— Kissimmee Utility (@KUAdirect) September 29, 2022
This user passed a series of tree trimming trucks on Tuesday headed to the Tampa area.
I passed several convoys of work trucks (bucket trucks, tree trimming trucks, etc.) headed north on I-75 towards Tampa presumably to start staging for the arrival of Hurricane Ian. #HiddenHeroespic.twitter.com/p7BRAjjdtP
— Michael E. Webber (@MichaelEWebber) September 27, 2022
These ranchers were grateful for their Ram Truck that helped them tend to cattle before the storm.
I passed several convoys of work trucks (bucket trucks, tree trimming trucks, etc.) headed north on I-75 towards Tampa presumably to start staging for the arrival of Hurricane Ian. #HiddenHeroespic.twitter.com/p7BRAjjdtP
— Michael E. Webber (@MichaelEWebber) September 27, 2022
In Punta Gorda on Florida’s western shore — one of the hardest hit areas — a semi-truck with trailer lays on its side, ostensibly blown over by Ian’s gale force winds.
Semi truck blown over by #HurricaneIan in Punta Gorda. That’s the eye of Ian above, no clear sky eye, just a calm overcast right now. And a guy casually walking his dog pic.twitter.com/ENTkdlR01v
— Mike Killian (@KillianPhoto) September 28, 2022
AT&T reported that it had hundreds of trucks and equipment ready to deploy.
The @ATT fleet consists of hundreds of network recovery support trailers and equipment, readied for rapid deployment. #HurricaneIanhttps://about.att.com/pages/disaster-recovery/network-recoverypic.twitter.com/DCW3WHqloV
— AT&T News (@ATTNEWS) September 28, 2022
This fleet of septic trucks is ready assist.
Our fleet is standing by for hurricane-related emergencies. If you are experiencing an emergency (overflow, spill, backups) please call us at 1-888-529-7436 to immediately speak to one of our emergency service representatives.#HurricaneIan#PlumbingEmergencypic.twitter.com/sURve6bMLf
— SepticExperts (@SepticTweets) September 28, 2022
Finally, fire fighters in Naples — and likely countless other first responder units — will have another massive job to clean up their own trucks and equipment.
Praying for all the first responders out there in Florida. This video is unbelievable. Fire trucks under water. 🙏 #Hurricane#IAN#FLOOD 🌀 #Category4#HurricaneIanpic.twitter.com/raqdANRdsR
— GRG | Sentinel 🇺🇸 (@GRGSentinel) September 29, 2022
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