Lakeland Electric reports that it is very close to having all of its customers back on line, but as of Tuesday afternoon, about 1,900 customers were still without power.

  • Company said those still without power suffered major damage
  • Repairing damage in backyards, wooded areas proved difficult
  • Company hopes to have full power restored by evening on Sept. 20

Southwest Lakeland resident Kathy Dwyer is one of those 1,900 customers.

“Ha, ha. It’s a little frustrating,” said Dwyer. Almost everyone else has power in her neighborhood.

“There is a group of nine of us in the little "L" shape that don’t have power here,” she said Tuesday morning. Dwyer's family has a generator running in the backyard to power a window air conditioner and a light.

Lakeland Electric said the customers still without power suffered major damage that had to be rebuilt in their areas. In some cases, it was difficult to get to damaged power lines in back yards or wooded areas.

“They are sometimes having to hand carry poles and equipment into backyards to restore power,” said city spokesman Kevin Cook. Dozens of out-of-state crews have been working with Lakeland Electric.

Lakeland mayor Howard Wiggs gave out a personal phone number late last week so people without power could call him directly to see if he could help. He was flooded with calls.

“It became hundreds, and it was twelve hours on Saturday. And then the calls started again on Sunday morning at 3:30,” Wiggs said.

For Dwyer, power may finally on the way, however. Utility crews were in her neighborhood later Tuesday.

“Really exciting. Oh my gosh,” she said. “Crossing my fingers because they were here last week cutting down branches, so we are hoping today.”

Lakeland Electric said it hoped to have power restored to all customers by late Wednesday evening.