SPOKANE, Wash. — Power companies are telling customers to prepare for extended power outages because of high winds expected tonight.
The winds will pick up around 10 p.m. and peak in the early morning hours.
Avista and Inland Power have been preparing for several days. Both companies have crews on standby. The City of Spokane has first responders ready to clean up wind damage.
Avista says its power lines can withstand 100 mph winds, but many trees in the area cannot. The company recommends stocking up on batteries for flashlights or battery-powered candles.
“We watch the National Weather Service very closely. Our operations team is always ready to respond when outages occur. In this particular storm, those strong winds with the saturated soil could really impact the trees around our infrastructure,” said David Vowels from Avista.
People have been buying weather stripping and batteries at local hardware stores to prepare for outages.
Inland Power has been clearing dangerous trees from power lines using aerial imaging. The company recommends insulating windows and doors and keeping non-perishable foods like granola bars on hand.
Inland Power warns customers to prepare for extended outages. Crews need time to make sure downed power lines are safe before fixing them.
Both companies will post outage updates on their websites. Avista encourages customers to report outages online or by phone.
“This particular one, it seems like we’re going to have some strong winds coming from the southwest. Our teams are ready and having conversations, and we’re prepared. Our crews will respond at a moments notice to support those outages,” said David Vowels from Avista.
Avista recommends securing Christmas decorations so they don’t blow away.
If you use a generator during an outage, use it outside safely. Have surge protectors ready for when power returns.
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