Severe storms hitting the São Paulo region have left thousands without power as EDP reports over 700 outages following high winds and heavy rainfall.
This past Friday, December 20, 2023, significant storms swept through various municipalities, ramping up the operational challenges faced by EDP, the energy distribution company. Areas greatly affected included São José dos Campos, Guarulhos, and São Sebastião, where residents experienced major disruptions.
EDP announced on their official channels, "Equipes técnicas estão mobilizadas, conforme o planejamento estratégico do Plano verão 2024/2025, e seguem em atuação no atendimento a mais de 700 ocorrências registradas até o momento." This indicates the mobilization of technical teams responding to the emergency, with the company focusing on restoring power as quickly as possible.
The storm's impact was no small matter, with wind gusts reaching approximately 80 km/h noted across the affected areas. The surging winds caused trees and branches to fall onto power lines, resulting in widespread outages. EDP described the situation, stating, "Os principais reparos estão relacionados à queda de galhos, árvores e lançamento de objetos sobre as redes elétricas, que demandam maior tempo de trabalho das equipes por conta da complexidade." The complexity of the repairs has led to longer restoration times, as teams work to clear fallen debris and restore power.
Municipalities like Guarulhos noted significant incidents as well, with areas such as Jardim Adriana and Cumbica dealing with service interruptions. EDP reported managing around 690 occurrences here alone. Precautions were taken, highlighting their commitment to safety by prioritizing restoration for hospitals and schools where electricity is critically necessary.
Alongside the logistical challenges posed by fallen trees, the Defense Civil of São Paulo issued warnings of more potential adverse weather over the weekend. Citizens were advised, "A população deve ficar atenta às recomendações sobre segurança e não se aproximar de cabos partidos ou de fios caídos," reinforcing the need for public safety amid the recovery efforts.
Similarly, São Sebastião experienced turmoil, where winds of up to 70 km/h prompted significant tree falls. EDP's teams reported focusing on restoring power to the most impacted areas, including neighborhoods like Juquehy and Baleia. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, though property damage was evident.
EDP continues to place emphasis on their recovery efforts. "Parte dos trabalhos é realizada em parceria com órgãos municipais, Defesa Civil, e o tempo de reparo das ocorrências varia de acordo com a dimensão dos danos em cada caso," denoting the partnership emphasis with municipal authorities to expedite repairs wherever possible.
While crews work tirelessly to restore power and prevent future outages, residents are reminded to remain vigilant concerning their surroundings and the likelihood of more storms. EDP's proactive stance aims to mitigate the issues caused by this sudden influx of storms, illustrating the operational complexity involved.
Looking forward, forecasts predict continued rain through the weekend, adding to the urgency of the situation as the region braces for any additional disruptions caused by the weather. The community is encouraged to stay aware of updates from EDP and local safety services to navigate this challenging situation safely.
