FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY PUD (Click on: http://www.jeffpud.org/summer-windstorm-aftermath/):
Report an Outage:
(360) 385.5800 or (800) 700.7152
Summer Windstorm Redux — report filed 7:30 p.m. Saturday:
A few quick notes about and images from today’s [Saturday’s] outage.
We were not alone. Many people within the Puget Sound region were without power and are still without power due to this “wind-on-leafy tree” storm.
News outlets across the country are reporting about 500,000 customers lost power in the region (mostly between PSE, Snohomish PUD and Seattle City Light). Customers also means households, which could mean about a million people or more were without electricity.
For us, the number was about 12,000 customers without power at the peak of the outage. Currently, as of 7:30
p.m. [Saturday], we have restored power to most of our customers that lost power, however about 4,000 or so still remain out throughout the district.
Two out-of-county line crews have been brought in to assist in getting power restored to everyone else.
Damage today was widespread within the district and across the region. In our area, every community was hit as well as many remote rural properties.
The reason so many people are out of power is simple: timing. This was one of the earliest high wind events in living memory.
Deciduous or leafy trees still in their summer green created more wind drag and stress on tree branches and roots than a barren tree in the fall or winter. Trees either snapped, roots gave way and fell on our lines and poles. Wind speeds were pretty steady at around 35 mph, but gusted to 59 mph at Point Wilson.
While we can usually handle sustained 35 mph without too much trouble, gusts around 60 mph are damaging any time of year.
We are now in full restoration mode. Our crews will rotate with the additional crews we brought in (Michaels) and will continue 24/7 until your power is restored.
Large capacity lines like feeders, for instance, will be our top priority because they bring on the most people. Then we will repair distribution lines and ultimately tap lines to individual homes.
Due to the number of lines impacted it is highly unlikely everyone will have power restored by the end of the weekend. However, please know that we will continue to work around the clock to get your power back up.
Below are some images taken in the field today of the damage caused by this historic storm.
was much more damage in the district today south of Port Ludlow, in Quilcene and on the Coyle Peninsula that we didn’t capture here.
Based on the calls we received today [Saturday], few were untouched by this weather event.
