Thousands of residents are without power in Marion County after Hurricane Debby brought high winds and rains that downed power lines and trees early this morning.
Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida earlier this morning and is located just inland of the Florida Big Bend.
As of 8 a.m., the storm has maximum sustained winds of about 75 mph, having slightly weakened since 5 a.m. when winds were over 80 mph.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane is producing “life-threatening storm surge in portions of Florida” and major flooding across the southeastern United States.
Outage maps produced by Duke Energy and the Ocala Electric Utility show that there are thousands of individuals in the city and county that are currently without power. The same is true for large parts of northern Florida.
“There are trees and power lines down near Fort King Street. If you see downed trees or power lines, please stay safe and aware,” reads a statement from Ocala Electric Utility issued just before 5 a.m.
As of 7:50 a.m., OEU reported that it was addressing approximately 82 outages affecting 3,351 customers.
Ocala Fire Rescue and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management say they have been responding to reports of downed power lines and trees that have fallen across roadways and homes.
“As Marion County continues to experience severe weather, officials urge citizens to be aware of how to report damage and power outages,” reads a statement from the sheriff’s office.
To report a power outage, call one of the following numbers:
- Ocala Electric Utility – 352-351-6666
- Duke Energy – 800-228-8485
- SECO – 352-237-4107
- Clay Electric – 888-434-9844
- Withlacoochee River Electric – 352-795-4382
If your property has sustained damage due to Hurricane Debby, residents are encouraged to take photographs and document the damage as safely as possible. Make emergency repairs such as covering broken windows and damaged roofs and, if the home is uninhabitable, seek safe lodging elsewhere.
To report damage to the Marion County Property Appraiser, file a report at the Marion County Property Appraiser Damage Assessment website or call 352-368-8300.
Do you have photos of storm debris or damage? Share your photos by contacting us.