Heavy winds and rain may bring down trees and create power problems this weekend.
The weather folks say strong winds are in the forecast for today with lots and lots of rain this weekend.
Here are some important reminders from the Snohomish PUD in the event of a “storm event” in the Everett area…
First, write this number down or put it in your phone…To report a power outage call the PUD at (425) 783-1001 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Get a Jump on Storms… Before They Hit!
- Have a plan for what you will do during outages if you and your family or business are dependent on power. Consider purchasing a portable generator to run your well, for instance, or have a safe and comfortable place to go during the restoration. Our crews will get to every home as fast as possible but weather can be unpredictable and lengthen restoration times.
- Keep up on the weather forecasts. Stay aware of approaching heavy snow or strong winds so you can be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws our way.
- Create an emergency preparedness kit with a three- to five-day supply of non-perishable food and water for your home and office. Also stock it with flashlights, batteries, blankets, a battery powered radio, first-aid supplies and other essential items. Keep a kit in your car too. Click here for a list.
There are many variables, including weather conditions, the amount of power lines down and the number of homes and businesses without power. The utility also needs to assess the types of outages, how widespread the damage is and how many crews are available.
During major storms, the PUD recruits contract and mutual aid crews from other parts of the Northwest and beyond. The utility strives to provide customers with a time-frame for restoration based on similar storms and the type of damage its service area has received. PUD crews work hard to restore every customer’s power as quickly as possible – often in severe fall and winter weather conditions. You can help protect you, your family and your business too by having a plan in place for outages.
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First, the utility focuses on outages at the higher voltage transmission level, which affect substations that serve large numbers of customers, hospitals, schools and businesses. |
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Oil spills from transformers, wires blocking main highways and wires down on buildings or vehicles get high priority because they present safety hazards.
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Next to be restored are substation main line circuits that serve neighborhoods and/or businesses. |
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Smaller outages are then addressed. These may be caused by transformer malfunctions or fallen service lines and may serve one or just a few homes. |
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Finally, outages impacting non-essential street lights. |
You can also follow the PUD during a storm on their Twitter Feed and their Facebook Page for the latest information.
November 12, 2015
Everett