Where are all the linemen coming from that are heading to Florida?
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In the US, each state agreed back in the 60s to make their power grids compatible and connect them each to the other. Except Texas, but that’s a different ELI5. The reason is so that states can buy and sell power from each other, this is why Atlanta mostly retained power during their last ice storm but Texas did not.
Anyway, one of the consequences of having an inter-compatible grid is that your maintenance crews can be moved around during an emergency because they all learn the same types of equipment and practices, to the same expectations/standards.
Every utility company in the eastern interconnect can send trucks and crews to any other state during a major event like this, which is the “where” part of your question. In the same way you town or city might send (or see( firefighters or police from the neighboring town occasionally, utility companies can do that during a big event. The linemen going to Florida could be from anywhere in the entire country, and they probably are! Florida uses equipment that is compatible with the equipment, tools, and training of every other state (except Texas) so the linemen can just show up with their normal equipment and be ready to work. Some may even come from the western interconnect though that is a somewhat longer drive for them.
They will park just outside the forecast storm area, probably in north Florida for this storm, and once the wind settles they will be briefed on which crews are assigned to which areas, which roads are open, where they are expected to sleep (usually a church or venue set up with cots and a kitchen), who the local utility crews are in their assigned area, who the emergency people will be, etc.
In fact, Florida sent crews to North Carolina less than a month ago, and they are now accepting crews from out of state. Sometimes you give, sometimes you receive.
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