SPOKANE, Wash. — Power companies across the Inland Northwest are mobilizing crews as severe thunderstorms with damaging winds approach the region tonight.
Avista and Inland Power & Light Company say crews are standing by, but residents should prepare for potentially lengthy restoration times due to safety protocols.
“Living in the Inland Northwest, we’re used to extreme weather, but each situation is unique. This particular storm comes with a lot of wind,” said David Vowels of Avista.
Andy Barth of Inland Power & Light Company said crews are prepared for the challenge ahead.
Power restoration may not be immediate. Utility companies will need time to assess damage before beginning repairs.
“It’s good for customers to understand that if their power is not restored quickly, it could possibly be a situation where there are a lot of trees down and it’s taking some time to get to that area,” Vowels said.
Avista’s fire safety protocols may extend outages. When trees hit power lines, crews must inspect damage to prevent fire hazards before restoring service. Inland Power plans similar protocols next week.
“Our crews will be working to assess those impacts and restore services safely as quickly as possible. But, it does take time,” Barth said.
Residents should move vehicles away from trees and secure outdoor furniture. Keep flashlights ready and report outages online or by phone.
“Please know where your resources are so that you can be prepared if a longer duration outage occurs,” Vowels said.
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