Florida Keys Electric Cooperative is starting the Sea Oats Beach storm-hardening pole relocation project in Islamorada. With severe beach erosion threatening the stability of this vital section of the transmission system, the project is necessary to protect power delivery from the mainland to the 80,000-plus accounts south of MM 80.
Once surrounded by more beach, the poles are now being encroached on by the Atlantic Ocean. During Hurricane Irma, waves battered this equipment, nearly pushing over one pole, requiring emergency repairs. To significantly harden this section and avoid future vulnerability, FKEC will install new, improved poles on the opposite side of U.S. 1 between the Overseas Highway and a small side road on the bayside.
In addition to increasing reliability, the relocation improves public safety by minimizing the potential for a pole to fall onto U.S. 1. It also reduces distribution lines crossing the highway, eliminating lane closures for future maintenance or repairs. There are also environmental benefits, which include removing the poles from the turtle nesting beach area and the wetland habitat near Sunset and Iroquois drives.
Over the next several weeks, FKEC contractor Massey-Richards Surveying & Mapping will survey and mark the area. During all phases of the project, FKEC is committed to working with members directly affected by any construction or vegetation maintenance and keeping the public notified of the project’s progress. While installing the new poles, which is estimated to begin in the fall or winter of 2022, there should be no significant power service interruptions or lane closures on U.S. 1. FKEC and the utility contractor will work strategically to minimize any inconveniences in this area.
To help pay for this multi-million-dollar storm-hardening improvement, FKEC worked diligently to obtain a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant. In January 2022, FKEC officially received a FEMA hazard mitigation grant covering 75% of the project’s cost, which amounts to approximately $7,500,000.
The grant comes from funds allotted by FEMA to Monroe County to further strengthen infrastructure. With FKEC’s transmission system responsible for delivering power from the mainland to its service territory and beyond to the Lower Keys, relocating and further storm hardening the system at Sea Oats beach was deemed a top priority project by the county, state and federal governments.
This project is independent of FDOT’s work to raise the roadbed.
For questions or concerns, call FKEC at 305-852-2431.
