But it did leave power lines down and about 17,000 customers in the county without power.
Power companies try to stay prepared for such mass outages.
"Leesburg's goal is to restore service to all customers ... as soon as possible but certainly within 72 hours after the initial 24-hour assessment period," said David Foster, director of Leesburg Electric Department, which services 23,000 customers
The city's electric company has several activities on tap that helps it stay prepared to address power outages, including mock storm drills, keeping generators serviced, fuel levels elevated and trees trimmed.
More than 60 percent of Leesburg's electric facilities are underground, which aides in limiting the number of facilities affected, Foster said.
"The only kind of event that would prevent us from such rapid response would be a cause that is completely out of the control of the city of Leesburg," said Foster, who cited transmission and generator outages as examples.
Duke Energy Florida, which serves 80,500 customers in Lake County and another 10,000 in Sumter County, simulates hurricane drills and participates in a state hurricane exercise to sharpen response and restoration times. Ana Gibbs, a Duke Energy spokeswoman, said in the past two years the company has put on more than three dozen storm preparation sessions and downed power-line demonstrations, reaching approximately 2,500 emergency first-responders and customers across Duke Energy's Florida service territory.
Most municipalities in Lake County rely on Duke Energy or SECO Energy to provide their residents with electricity.
But like Leesburg, the city of Mount Dora also provides its residents with power. It has about 5,600 customers.
Charles Revel, the city's electric utility manager, said they are spending about $50,000 a year replacing wooden power poles with concrete ones to help reduce power outages. They are focusing on the older poles.
"They are stronger and hold up better," Revel said of the concrete poles.
Revel said there is also a very aggressive tree trimming program.
"In a hurricane, that is usually part of the problem," added Revel, referring to trees on power lines.
Gibbs said Duke as spent more than $2.4 billion since 2004 maintaining and strengthening their Florida power delivery system, including inspecting and replacing power poles and trimming vegetation and trees.
In 2016, more than 103,000 wood distribution poles were inspected, 82,000 were treated to prevent decay and 4,400 were replaced. Duke Energy Florida now has more than 800,000 wood distribution poles and has replaced nearly 42,000 since 2006 that were identified through their Wood Pole Inspection Program.
Duke Energy and its staff of meteorologists also are constantly monitoring weather conditions, preparing to maintain a "high level of reliability" and to react quickly when the power goes out.
"An important part of being safe is being prepared. Duke Energy Florida prepares for storms every day of the year," said Harry Sideris, Duke Energy Florida president. "We want our customers to get ready now so they can react more quickly during a storm."
Gibbs provided the following tips from Duke Energy to help customers stay safe if severe weather strikes and the power goes out:
• Create (or update) an emergency supply kit to save valuable time later. The kit should include everything an individual or family would need for at least two weeks, especially medicines and other supplies that might be hard to find after a storm strikes.
• Maintain a supply of water and non-perishable food.
• Ensure first-aid supplies and medicines are readily available. If electricity is needed to operate medical equipment, contact Duke Energy (800-700-8744) in advance of a storm to learn what to do in the event of a power outage or emergency.
• Review insurance policies, and include extra copies of the policies and other important documents in the emergency supply kit (ideally in a waterproof container).
• Keep flashlights on hand, ensure they're operational, and maintain a supply of extra batteries.
• Keep a portable radio, TV or NOAA weather radio on hand to monitor weather forecasts and official information.
• Maintain a plan to move family members — especially those with special needs — to a safe, alternate location in case an extended power outage occurs or evacuation is required. Pet owners can make arrangements to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets, friends' or family members' homes, or pet-friendly hotels.
• Draw an emergency water supply in advance if one's home or apartment depends on well water, in case well-water pumps become inoperable due to a power outage.
• Use backup electric generators safely, and follow manufacturers' directions.
• Unplug major non-essential appliances. Advanced surge protection systems will protect homes from most power surges, but will not prevent damage from direct lightning strikes.
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