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NEWPORT – Winds reaching gusts of up to 50-60 miles per hour are expected in Eastern Washington Wednesday night, March 11 and Thursday March 12, according to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Spokane. Numerous to widespread power outages are expected, along with widespread tree damage and damage from unsecured items.
Pend Oreille Public Utility District spokesperson Joe Hathaway says power outages should be reported to the PUD by calling 5094473137. “We also want to remind everyone that if they see a downed power line, they should stay at least 50 feet away and treat every line as if it is energized,” Hathaway says. “Downed lines are extremely dangerous, so please report them to us immediately, along with any trees that may be on the lines.”
For people using generators during a potential outage, he reminds them to operate them safely and properly. Always use generators outdoors in a wellventilated area, and never in a garage or enclosed space, to prevent carbon monoxide and other hazards.
“We also urge customers to make sure their generators are connected correctly and never plugged into a home’s wiring without a transfer switch, which helps prevent backfeed onto power lines, which is extremely dangerous to our line workers,” he said.
