Four families living in a condominium in southwest Miami-Dade, including at least two of Cuban origin, are breathing a sigh of relief after having their electricity restored following a 17-day and 16-night blackout. Late Wednesday night, just hours after their situation was brought to light by a report on Telemundo 51, the affected families regained power in their homes.
Florida Power & Light (FPL) restored service around 10 PM on Wednesday to the four affected residences located in the area of Southwest 172nd Street and 112th Court. The electric company clarified that the issue was not within their control. In a statement, FPL explained that the condo association needed to hire an electrician to repair the damaged electrical equipment and that once those repairs were completed, FPL would safely and promptly restore the power.
The condo association, on their part, stated that they had been waiting for the necessary permit approvals from Miami-Dade County authorities to finalize the repairs. "This feels like something that would happen in Cuba, but it's happening here in the United States in an association where I pay $450 every month," said Humberto Sotolongo, one of the affected residents, in an interview with Telemundo 51.
However, following the news report, the association managed to secure the permits and complete the work in less than 24 hours. As for the cause of the blackout, residents were informed that a rat had chewed through the main cable, causing a short circuit. The rat was electrocuted, leading to the power outage.
Nonetheless, the residents believe that the rat cannot be held responsible for the delays, extra expenses, and the uncertainty they endured for 17 days. They are determined to seek accountability, whether from the condo association or the county.
FAQs on Miami-Dade Condo Power Outage
Here are some frequently asked questions about the power outage incident in the Miami-Dade condominium, which lasted 17 days and affected several families:
What caused the 17-day power outage in the Miami-Dade condo?
The outage was caused by a rat chewing through the main cable, which led to a short circuit and the subsequent blackout.
Who is responsible for the repairs in the condo association?
The condo association was responsible for hiring an electrician to repair the damaged electrical equipment. They had to wait for permit approvals from Miami-Dade County authorities before completing the repairs.
How did the residents manage to get the electricity restored?
After their situation was highlighted in a report by Telemundo 51, the condo association quickly secured the necessary permits and completed the repairs, allowing FPL to restore power.