Janet Gray, one of thousands of people in the Spokane area still without power following a major windstorm, gave up living in her house when the thermostat hit 38 degrees and moved to a hotel.
Despite the cold, food she bought for Thanksgiving spoiled and she called off dinner plans with relatives who planned to travel from western Washington for the holiday.
“All our food for Thanksgiving is ruined,” the 42-year-old Spokane woman said. “For now, it’s canceled.”
Gov. Jay Inslee planned to meet with local leaders Tuesday as tens of thousands of people who have been shivering for nearly a week remained without power.
A major windstorm Nov. 17 damaged the electrical grid in Spokane, the state’s second-largest city. Winds topping 70 mph in the Northwest snapped power poles and toppled trees that crashed through roofs and crushed cars. Three people died when trees fell on their vehicles, and heavy rains flooded roadways and homes.
More storms were expected to worsen the plight of over 29,000 customers in Spokane County who have been living without heat and light amid subfreezing temperatures — the forecast calls for snow and wind chills dropping into the single digits Monday night. Stores sold out of firewood as people used wood stoves to heat their homes.
Gray said she’s frustrated and angry with the local utility because she cannot get answers to when power will be restored to her home in Spokane’s South Hill area.
Crews are working around the clock, but the extent of destruction means most customers won’t be able to turn on their heaters, TVs and light switches until late Wednesday evening, according to Avista Corp., the Spokane region’s major electrical utility.
“Living without power in these cold conditions for several days is very stressful and trying,” said Avista Chairman Scott Morris. “Let me assure you, we continue to dedicate every available resource at our disposal to restore your power as we recover from the worst natural disaster in our company’s 126-year history.”
Those still in the dark Monday were mainly in locations in Spokane County where it was most difficult to restore electrical service, Avista said. They represent about 20 percent of the company’s customers in the county.
Public schools have been closed since Wednesday because many buildings lacked electricity. While power has been restored to most schools, the district decided to cancel classes all week for 29,000 students because downed power lines and trees blocking sidewalks where children walk pose a danger.
Five schools were operating as warming shelters for those without electricity and served 2,100 meals over the weekend, officials said.
Last week’s storm initially knocked out power to 180,000 customers across eastern Washington and northern Idaho, Avista said. The utility brought in line crews from across the West and Canada to try to rebuild its damaged system.
Additional crews arrived from Montana and Oregon on Sunday, with 123 crews now working 24 hours a day to restore power, the company said.
“This workforce faces the daunting task of repairing the hundreds of miles of distribution lines that were destroyed in Tuesday’s devastating windstorm that left a path of toppled trees, broken poles and tangled wire in its wake,” Avista said.
Replacing one power pole can take up to six hours, the company said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
This storm can also be viewed as an exercise in being prepared. I live in North Idaho about 80 miles away from Spokane. Every winter about this time there is a big storm front that comes down from the Arctic bringing with it high winds, heavy rain and ice. Today (11/24) is the first significant snowfall. My point is that since this happens EVERY year about this time, when will people figure this out beforehand and stock up on supplies?
Fortunately, I belong to an electric co-operative that is used to minor disasters like this. Every year we go a couple or three days without power and most folks are prepared for it. Extra insulation, plastic covered windows and extra blankets are only a small part of being prepared.
Extra food and water are just as important as an alternate heat source. Portable propane heaters are cheap and very effective for small spaces. Wood stoves, oil heaters and kerosene heaters are a little more spendy, but what price can you put on keeping your family warm?
Everybody should have at least a weeks worth of non perishable food in their pantry, a month or more would be better. Think of the non perishable food (canned soup, canned meats, veggies, pastas, rice, beans,,,etc) as a type of insurance. You aren’t ;losing anything by buying extra food,,,you can always eat it! Most people don’t realize that grocery stores depend on regular deliveries to keep food in stock. Most stores, even the big ones only carry three 3 days worth of inventory. If people rush to stock up on food, water, candles, batteries and propane when a disaster hits, it’ll all be gone in a matter of days if trucks can’t get through to deliver more.
Relying on electricity only for your survival is not a very smart move. Relying on the corner grocery to feed you is just about as dumb as relying on the police to protect you.
Well stated ,poor sheeple, would rather spend extra money to see some holly wood tard then buy a Sixpack of soup , they’ll be in a world of hurt when the S H T F , I e emp attack or more muzscum invasion , it’s coming to your neighborhood soon !!!! Prep up
If they spent the next 20 years putting all the electric info-structure underground, we would never have to worry about storms. Millions of people all over America could be put to work. This problem resurfaces every time we have snow, sleet, rain. You would think by now that someone with common senses would start this project, since our weather is only going to get worse and will continue for decades into the future. No brainer solution.