With the upcoming start of the 2024 hurricane season, JEA is encouraging Northeast Florida residents to join with the utility in being fully prepared. JEA works throughout the year to provide for the community’s safety before, during and after severe weather. While no one knows when severe weather will impact the region, NOAA National Weather Service forecasters predict above-normal hurricane activity this year.
“We know our customers rely on us to provide safe and reliable utility service, particularly during major storms,” JEA Interim Managing Director & CEO Vickie Cavey said. “Our teams are ready with the supplies we need and are prepared to respond to whatever storms come our way.”
JEA continually invests in utility upgrades, including new technologies and electric and water infrastructure, replacing wooden transmission structures with ductile iron, steel, and concrete; adding generators and pumps to our facilities; and hardening electric service to our most critical pump stations.
JEA reduces the risk of downed trees and broken branches causing outages by pruning trees within the rights-of-way all year long. JEA encourages customers help build the resiliency of Jacksonville’s urban tree canopy by properly maintaining and planting trees on their property. Dead and declining branches, structural defects, and other tree hazards should be addressed in advance of a storm’s approach.
JEA has technology to better serve customers and to address issues before they escalate during inclement weather. The utility developed an interactive 3D map to allow teams to monitor 1,550 sewer pumping stations and more than 500 water pressure sensors. By increasing situational awareness, the Augmented Operational Intelligence system helps minimize Sanitary Sewer Overflows and maintain water pressure throughout our system.
What Can Customers Do?
JEA encourages residential and business customers to take the following actions to prepare for possible storm-related impacts during the next six months:
- Visit JEA.com/storm to ensure your contact information is up to date and to register for power restoration alerts.
- To report electric or water outages during a storm, visit jea.com/outage or call 904-665-6000. Customers who have enrolled in electric outage alerts also can text “OUT” to MyJEA (69532) to report an outage.
- Make sure addresses are correct and visible on mailboxes, homes, or businesses. If you call for help, responders want to be able to find you.
- For tree/utility related questions or concerns visit jeatreecare@jea.com, or call 904-665-6050.
Customers also may take advantage of Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays that will run from June 1 - 14 and Aug. 24 - Sept. 6, 2024. Items that are exempt from tax during the sale dates include portable generators, tarps or other waterproof sheeting, portable radios and other supplies needed during the evacuation of household.
About JEA
JEA is a not-for-profit, community-owned utility that provides safe, reliable and affordable services to more than one million residents across four Northeast Florida counties. JEA is not owned by investors. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to meet the electricity and water needs of those who live in Jacksonville and surrounding communities. JEA’s 2,200+ workforce is dedicated to ensuring the demands of its customers are met, both today and for generations to come, while protecting our precious natural resources and supporting our region’s growth and economic development.