Summer seems to be throwing a tantrum as it moves aside to make room for autumn. With over 2200 sky to ground lightning strikes in the last week alone, it’s safe to say that weather in the Pacific Northwest is undoubtably cranky.
In order to get ahead of stormy weather, Snohomish County PUD is prepping by trimming back trees and shrubbery from power lines proactively, reducing the risk of limbs or simple debris interrupting power in the event of heavy wind or rain. During the course of the year, PUD also fine tunes their electrical distribution system in order to minimize disruptions. The goal is to maintain a higher level of reliability for customers and reduce reactive strain on PUD workers during response times.
From the Snohomish County PUD: “To aid in storm restoration, the PUD develops pre-set agreements with contractors and mutual-aid crews from around the region and stocks up on key supplies, including wire, poles, transformers and other equipment.
The safety of PUD employees and customers is a top priority during storms. Remember to stay at least 30 feet away from fallen power lines and never use a combustible heating source such as a gas grill or portable generator indoors. Always use extreme caution when using candles or lamps inside, and keep them away from furniture, drapes and other flammable materials.
September is National Preparedness Month and the PUD encourages customers to create an emergency preparedness kit to help them stay safe and comfortable during power outages. Pack a kit with flashlights, batteries, matches, drinking water, food bars, blankets, a battery powered radio and first aid kit. For a complete list of what to pack, visit www.snopud.com/winterprep. If customers have special medical needs and are dependent on power, the PUD advises them to consider purchasing a generator or prearrange to go to family, friends or another safe place with power.”
During outages, customers can call 425-783-1001 or visit the online Outage Map (www.snopud.com/outagemap) to report outages. If you spot downed power lines or anything else dangerous, call 911.
Use the Outage Map to track outages throughout the utility’s service territory, found here. The map uses color-coded boxes to indicate outage areas and details including the cause, number of homes affected and the estimated time of restoration.
