Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas convened the meeting with representatives from Florida Power & Light Co., Florida Keys Electric Cooperative and Homestead Energy -- as well as officials from the county's emergency services -- to discuss any possible threats to the region and whether contingency plans are in place. "I'm confident that we are as prepared as we can be," Penelas said after the hourlong meeting. "We need to be prepared for any contingency." The power companies and the county's Office of Emergency Management told the mayor something they've known since Hurricane Andrew ravaged south Miami-Dade more than 10 years ago: Miami-Dade is ready for massive blackouts. Although emergency agencies say their blackout plans are components of other disaster plans, county officials say their readiness for a possible hurricane is enough preparation. "We plan for hurricanes six months out of the year," said Carlos Castillo, head of the county's emergency management. "We have a lot of plans and procedures that make us prepared." But those plans may not be necessary. Officials from the state's power companies say that, unlike the states affected by the blackout Thursday, Florida is largely self-sufficient, with 90 percent of the state's electricity produced from within its borders. State officials also require utilities to keep 20 percent more power in reserve at all times. "Any one thing, losing a line or generator, should not affect the major flow of electricity," said Martin Mennes, vice president for FPL's transmission and substation. Nevertheless, Mennes said he could not be sure that a massive blackout would not hit Florida, since the cause of last week's power outage is still unknown. However, emergency officials did highlight two areas that need attention. They said Miami-Dade's list of medically dependent residents, for whom electricity is vital to their survival, should match FPL's list. The county also should identify which hospitals lack emergency power generators, the officials said. P.I.N// Sun Sentinel