UPDATE: Power restoration efforts are ongoing in Clark County, Washington, as utility crews from Clark Public Utilities work tirelessly to restore electricity to thousands of customers affected by severe storms. The outages began around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, when damaging winds and falling trees knocked out power.
At the peak of the outages, nearly 98,000 customers were left in the dark. By late Wednesday night, that number had significantly decreased to approximately 5,000, as crews continue to make progress. “Things have been very busy,” said Dameon Pesanti, spokesperson for Clark Public Utilities. “We’re working to restore power, triage the damage, and build a plan.”
Residents are feeling the impact of the outages. “I hope the lights get turned back on and my freezer full of salmon doesn’t go bad,” expressed Andrew Colver, who was navigating his darkened east Vancouver neighborhood. “We don’t miss electricity until it’s gone.” He has resorted to charging his phone in his car due to the ongoing blackout.
The storm has not only disrupted homes but also local businesses. In downtown Camas, the popular restaurant Grains of Wrath announced its closure due to storm damage, with part of its outdoor canopy destroyed. They posted on social media, stating they would be “closed until further notice due to storm damage.” Local patrons are now scrambling for alternatives. “We were going to eat here, but now we’re going to find something else, hopefully,” said Linda Mallon, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding power availability in the area.
Pesanti has urged residents to report any outages and to maintain caution around downed power lines, especially near standing water. “It’s not worth the risk,” he emphasized. Crews are not only focused on restoring current outages but are also preparing for potential additional storms that could affect the region.
Colver shared a message of gratitude towards the utility workers, stating, “I know they’re working very hard. Thank you very much for all that you’re doing.” As the situation develops, residents are encouraged to stay tuned for updates and remain safe during this challenging time.
