Power Out For 115,000 PGE Customers (UPDATE)

To report an outage or a downed power line, please call 1-877-LITES OUT (1-877-548-3768). Do NOT call the police if your power goes out.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - Pacific Power is continuing to respond to outages caused by severe weather throughout its Oregon service territory. Outages are affecting more than 115,000 customers along the coast, in the mid-Willamette Valley and in the southern part of the state.

Current areas and customers affected: Clatsop County: 22,917; Corvallis: 19,118; Lincoln City: 11,477; Roseburg 152; Coos Bay: 7,957; Grants Pass: 9,391; Portland: 5,671; Stayton: 5,314; Lebanon: 1,684; Dallas: 1,546; Albany: 564; Total: 93,902

Utility crews are facing hazardous conditions and are able to safely perform limited restoration duties until the danger subsides. Falling trees due to saturated ground and high winds are significant challenges for crews.

PGE has 130 crews responding to storm-related outages at this hour. Crews will work throughout the night to restore power to customers as quickly as possible.

Wind conditions are complicated by the fact that heavy rains today and throughout the past few weeks have left soil in the region heavily saturated, which could result in many downed trees. While PGE has a nationally-recognized tree-trimming program, wind storms present special challenges. Douglas firs can grow up to 150 feet tall in parts of the Metro area. So even when trees are 100 feet or more away, they can still take down a power line resulting in outages if they are uprooted.

Pacific Power is encouraging customers to prepare for extended outages.

Customers should not be out on the roads if at all possible due to downed lines and debris. Also, people are asked to gather emergency supplies including a flashlight with extra batteries, battery-operated alarm clock, manual can opener, battery-powered radio, bottled water and non-perishable food items.

Pacific Power asks that customers take extra care and stay well away from any downed power lines they may come across. Not all downed lines are energized, but it is impossible to tell if they are. To report an outage or a downed power line, please call 1-877-LITES OUT (1-877-548-3768).

Sustained winds along the coast are currently gusting to 91 mph.

Because the storm was anticipated, Pacific Power moved line crews and tree trimming crews from inland to coastal areas anticipating that the storm will be severe.

Conditions are likely to worsen throughout the evening and into Friday morning for coastal areas and potentially into the valley. The ground is saturated from previous storms and trees have begun to lean into power lines.

Power Outage Phone Numbers:

• PGE: 1-877-LITES OUT (1-877-548-3768)
• Salem Electric: (503) 362-3601
• Pacific Power: (877) 548-3768
• Consumers Power: (800) 827-9036
• Monmouth: (503) 838-3526
• McMinnville: (503) 472-6158
• Canby: (503) 266-4021
• Avista: (800) 227-9187