Hurricane Isaias tested Gulf Breeze, Florida’s long-planned project to bury overhead power lines. City leaders say the underground utilities along U.S. Highway 98 helped speed power restoration and improve safety after the storm.
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Before the storm arrived, Gulf Breeze had moved more than two miles of utility lines underground in phase one of the project, according to WEAR News. Mayor JB Schluter said that investment paid off.
At the Santa Rosa Sound weather station, winds reached 91 to 116 mph. Schluter said the buried system “did the job,” helping crews avoid the usual danger of downed live wires and preserving activity along the city’s main business strip.
“We didn’t have live wires and no debris and stuff like that along the streets. And also, we didn’t have much downturn through the commercial area in that area right there,” he added, per WEAR News…