San Antonio’s city-owned utility CPS Energy and WaterFleet, a local utility-focused company, have deployed employees ready to offer technical assistance in areas of Florida and Georgia forecast to be severely affected by Hurricane Ian.

Meanwhile, San Antonio-based South Texas Blood and Tissue said it is helping to boost blood centers in Florida.

CPS Energy officials said, in response to a mutual assistance request from the Jacksonville Electric Authority in Florida, they dispatched a storm restoration caravan to Jacksonville early Sept. 28 to help restore power for any JEA customers who may be impacted by Hurricane Ian.

“When JEA reached out to us, I immediately called the CEO and told him we’d answer the call. We are one team here in our community and for our fellow neighbors in need halfway across the country,” CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy Garza said in a statement.

CPS Energy’s storm restoration team includes 35 members, with three overhead teams consisting of six crew members per group, and 17 members of the fleet and safety team and other staff, according to a news release.

CPS Energy officials said crews are traveling in 17 vehicles comprised of six bucket trucks, three pole setting trucks and other support equipment.

The team will drive to Mobile, Alabama, to rest overnight while they await their assignments for any affected areas in Jacksonville. CPS Energy is prepared to provide assistance for up to two weeks, the release said.

The release said CPS Energy crews helped to restore power after Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma both hit Florida in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

In a separate initiative, company representatives said San Antonio-based WaterFleet sent a convoy of more than 20 of its mobile utility units Sept. 28 to provide safe water and sewage solutions to emergency camps housing first responders and frontline workers in the affected areas.

In a coordinated effort, the units are being operated on the ground by WaterFleet’s water treatment team with additional remote monitoring being supplied by support staff at WaterFleet’s San Antonio headquarters.

WaterFleet CEO Alan Pyle said while recovery teams often deal with limited resources and harsh conditions, clean water is one of the most essential and immediate needs during the relief effort.

“The WaterFleet team will be providing the essential resources of running water and wastewater treatment for these emergency camps to support the response teams who came rushing into the area to help. We are proud to help those who are helping others,” Pyle said in a statement.

According to company representatives, among the WaterFleet units that have been deployed include its Water Rig and The Reclaimer Rig, along with multiple parts support trailers and tanks.

The WaterFleet systems are capable of operating for an extended period of time, which is critical as recovery efforts in the affected areas are expected to take months, a news release said.

Company representatives said with these units on-site at the emergency camps, first responders, utility workers and other frontline workers gain access to clean water for drinking, ice production, showering, hand washing, laundry and food preparation with the Water Rig. The Reclaimer Rig is providing on-site wastewater treatment, representatives added.

“The health and well-being of frontline workers and our first responders is vitally important to us. Being able to minimize or avoid the harsh conditions seen and experienced in a disaster area helps people cope with the mental and physical stress,” Pyle said.

South Texas Blood and Tissue said Sept. 28 it has delivered blood to blood centers in Florida, and along with other blood centers across the nation, is preparing to send additional units if needed.

Hurricanes and storms can disrupt blood collection, leading to a drop in the blood supply, STBT officials said, adding that donors are encouraged to schedule a donation before a spike in the need for blood, since it is blood already on the shelves that can help in cases of emergency or disaster relief.

Adrienne Mendoza, chief operating officer of STBT, a subsidiary of local nonprofit BioBridge Global, said while blood supplies are low nationally, blood centers come together to help one another when events like hurricanes arise.

“Centers came to our aid when Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast in 2017, and we will stand ready if our neighbors in Florida need help,” Mendoza said in a statement.

All blood types are needed, but especially Type-O donors and platelet donors, according to a press release. STBT has less than a one-day supply of Type-O blood, the universal blood type, the release said.

Donors can make an appointment to give at one of nine donor centers or at a community blood drive by visiting www.SouthTexasBlood.org or calling 210-731-5590.