Pacific Power release – Diminished winds create an opportunity for staged crews to work to get the lights back on. PORTLAND, Ore. (Dec. 27, 2022) – Service crews are working through the night this holiday season to restore power to customers impacted by the ongoing windstorm. Widespread strong winds over and west of the Cascades ranging from 40 to 80 miles per hour have challenged restoration efforts thus far. Declining winds are creating an opportunity for Pacific Power’s crews, staged near downed lines, to accelerate the pace of repairs. “The tireless efforts of our crews are helping customers get the lights back on,” said Allen Berreth, vice president of operations. “We appreciate their efforts and customer’s continued patience as we work against the elements to restore power as soon as possible.” Over 375 field and service personnel, including service crews from sister company Rocky Mountain Power, have been mobilized to assess and repair damage caused by strong winds. As of 5:30pm today, there are approximately 20,500 customers out of power, down from the 49,622 customers at the height of the wind event. The communities with the largest remaining outages include: Astoria, 7,500 customers. Coos Bay, 1,500 customers. Grants Pass, 8,000 customers: Willamette Valley, 3,600 customers. Visit pacificpower.net/outages for a map showing current restoration estimates. Pacific Power encourages customers to report outages by calling 1-877-508-5088 or text OUT to 722797. Text STAT to 722797 to check the status of your outage. To ease the inconvenience of power outages and assist crews in restoring power, Pacific Power suggests the following tips and safety precautions: Stay away from all downed power lines and utility lines. Even if the lines are not sparking, they could be energized and extremely dangerous. Call 911 and report the outage to Pacific Power at 1-877-508-5088. Don’t drive over downed power lines. Maintain safe distances from workers. Repair work is being done under our COVID-19 safety protocols. Waves and acknowledgement are welcome, but please allow crews to do their work at an appropriate distance both for operational and COVID-19 safety. If there is damage to your service mast or weather head, where the powerline connects to your home or business, you will need to contact a licensed electrician for repairs before service can be restored. Our crews can only work on company-owned equipment. Check on your neighbors, especially those who may need special assistance. Also, check with others who have electricity, to see if you can visit. If you have power at this time, keep mobile devices charged so that may be used in an emergency. Before anything happens, download the Pacific Power app to your smart device so you can have information readily available. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Most food requiring refrigeration can be kept safely in a closed refrigerator for several hours. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Remember your pets! Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. If you are using alternate heat or cooking sources, remember to allow plenty of ventilation. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. If you are using a generator, make sure to follow all manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure the generator is outside and not near any household air intakes. Do not connect the generator directly to your breaker box as this can create a dangerous situation for crews working on the powerlines. Instead, plug essential appliances directly into the generator. Severe rains can create sewage overflows. The Oregon Health Authority has compiled tips for what to do if you suspect your water source may be flooded.
