I&M crews joining Hurricane Milton restoration efforts

FORT WAYNE — Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) employees are in Florida to help more than 3 million customers left without power in the wake of Hurricane Milton.

I&M has 479 employees and contractors joining Hurricane Milton restoration efforts to help Tampa Electric and Florida Power and Light restore their customers. Lineworkers, fleet technicians, tree trimming experts and safety support staff will work 16-hour days repairing and replacing power poles, power lines and, if needed, rebuilding portions of the electrical system.

This is I&M's second hurricane response in recent weeks. More than 450 I&M employees and contractors assisted our AEP sister companies, Appalachian Power and Kentucky Power, restoring power to customers after remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread power outages. Those crews returned home Oct. 7 after 10 days.

I&M has fresh crews heading to Florida and a full contingent of lineworkers, tree trimming crews and employees to respond if outages occur at home.

"The dedication to helping each other and our customers is a mainstay of our industry. Restoring power is often the first critical step in rebuilding and restoring normalcy in devastated communities." said Steve Baker, I&M president and COO. "I'm always impressed with our employee's willingness to respond – often at a moment's notice – to help those at home and far away. Thank you and your families for your dedication to helping those who need it most."

I&M and parent company AEP are part of a nationwide group of power companies that help each other when significant power outages occur.

There is no timetable for the return of northern Indiana crews, but residents can follow their role in restoration efforts on I&M's social media pages.

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,000 employees serve more than 600,000 customers.