I know that Florida is exempt from natural disasters and all (I'm being sarcastic), but I think anyone smart would have at least SOME solar panels, so they can generate a little electricity during an emergency. But to think that after all the hurricanes, some people are still 100% dependant on the infrastructure working perfectly.


 MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Massive power outages struck Florida on Tuesday afternoon, with power reported out from Miami to Jacksonville on the east coast and as far north as Tampa on the Gulf Coast, police and utility officials said.

Motorists try to navigate an intersection after traffic lights go dark.

About 4.4 million customers across South Florida were affected, Florida Power and Light Co. officials said.

The outage struck shortly after 1 p.m. ET as scattered thunderstorms passed through the region.

But the cause of the outage was not immediately known.

In Washington, officials at the Department of Homeland Security said there was no immediate concern that terrorism was behind the outage.

Stan Johnson, a spokesman for the North American Electric Reliability Council, said eight power plants were off-line across the region.
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He said that officials believe the outage has been contained.

Detective Robert Williams, a Miami-Dade County police spokesman, said power was out across the entire county.

Outages stretched into neighboring Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, he said.
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In Palm Beach County, spotty outages ranged from Riviera Beach to Boca Raton, said sheriff's spokeswoman Teri Barbera.

Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are home to nearly 6 million people.