(PENSACOLA, Fla.) — Florida Power & Light (FPL) crews are continuing to restore electricity across the Florida Panhandle following Hurricane Isaias, while residents face concerns about drinking-water safety as utility crews repair storm-damaged infrastructure.
Photo Credit: mapsofflorida.net/ Florida’s Panhandle
Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties experienced widespread power outages following the hurricane. Restoration efforts have made progress since the storm, with FPL targeting restoration of electricity to 95% of affected customers who can safely receive power by the end of Monday, Oct. 12.
Approximately 16,000 restoration workers from 29 states were deployed to support recovery efforts. Crews have used staging and processing sites, along with drone-based damage assessments, to help identify damage and accelerate restoration.
As power restoration progresses, concerns about drinking-water safety remain. The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) issued a systemwide precautionary boil-water notice Oct. 9 following Hurricane Isaias.
Photo Credit: FPL website/ Utility worker restoring electricity October 11, 2026.
The notice applies to all ECUA water customers, including those on Pensacola Beach, and remains in effect until the utility confirms that the water is safe for normal use.
According to guidance from the city of Pensacola and ECUA, residents should take the following precautions:
Do not assume tap water is safe. Residents should continue following ECUA's guidance until the notice is officially lifted.
Boil tap water for at least one minute. Water should reach a rolling boil before being used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes or preparing food.
Use commercially bottled water when available. Bottled water is an alternative for drinking and food preparation.
Monitor official updates. Residents should check ECUA announcements before resuming normal water use.
The precautionary notice does not establish that contamination has occurred. It is intended to protect public health while the utility assesses storm-related disruptions and verifies water quality.
Photo Credit: ECUA/Official Logo
ECUA has also been working to restore water service, inspect infrastructure and address storm-related damage across its service area.
According to an Oct. 12 report by WEAR News, ECUA expects the boil-water notice to be lifted Tuesday, Oct. 13, for mainland customers and Wednesday, Oct. 14, for Pensacola Beach.
Residents should continue following the notice until ECUA officially confirms that it has been lifted in their area.
For current information on water safety and restoration efforts, residents can visit ECUA.fl.gov or the City of Pensacola's official website.
To submit corrections or additional information about this report, contact james.b@lead4earth.org or leave a comment below.
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