Irma knocks out power to 7M US homes, businesses

Nearly 7.2 million homes and businesses are without power in multiple states as Tropical Storm Irma moves through the Southeastern United States.

The vast majority were in Florida. The state’s emergency management officials say the storm cut power to more than 6.5 million account holders across the state, as of this afternoon.

Eric Silagy, the CEO of Florida Power & Light, says Irma has caused the most widespread damage in the company’s history. It affected all 35 counties in the utility’s territory, which is most of the state’s Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast south of Tampa. The most extensive damage is likely in the Naples area, but a full assessment was ongoing. He says 19,500 electric workers have been deployed in the restoration effort.

Still, he says, it will take days for many people to be restored and, in some cases, where the damage is extensive, weeks.

Meanwhile, Duke Energy reports this morning that more than 860,000 of the homes and businesses it serves in Florida are without power.

Georgia reports more than 570,000 homes and businesses without electricity, and there are 80,000 in South Carolina.

— AP