Utility trucks are gassed up and stocked up as power companies prep for the next round of high winds.
For a small utility, like Grays Harbor PUD, there’s a solid network for mutual aid, which the PUD’s Ian Cope says often means their crews helping elsewhere. Several just returned from Snohomish County, which needed the extra help after the recent bout with snow and ice.
Cope says they have enough parts and equipment stock on hand to get through the winter, but supply chain issues have definitely slowed their pre-ordering. Cope says when they place an order, “wait times that would usually run into the weeks, we’re actually now being told many, many months before we could get some of those supplies.” Cope says transformers are hardest to get because they’re a pretty complex piece of equipment. Snohomish PUD’s Kellie Stickney says their crews have gotten pretty resourceful when it comes to repairing transformers, although she says sometimes blown transformers are beyond repair.
Both also say they take system security very seriously and are working with law enforcement, especially after recent attacks on substations in Washington. “We have not had any recent events,” Cope says, “There have been some events that have occurred over the past 4-5 months, but at this point, nothing’s really changed in the way that we monitor security.” The utilities say they keep a close eye on their substations, but if the need for greater security arises, they will step it up. They’re also quick to point out that working in a substation requires specialized training in order to work safely. They say someone is liable to get hurt or even killed if they make a hands-on attempt to damage a substation or steal equipment.
The utilities say this storm is another reminder to make sure you have an emergency kit ready. There’s disagreement on whether candles aren’t more dangerous than they’re worth when it comes to temporary light, but the standard warnings include not running a generator anywhere indoors nor burning charcoal or any unventilated fire so you don’t fill the house with poisonous, odorless and invisible carbon monoxide gas. Fresh batteries in your flashlights are a must. You’ll want to keep food and blankets in your kit, as well as warm clothes. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have any medications you need on hand, and if you keep your car’s gas tank filled up, you can warm up if the house gets cold and even charge your phone. A power inverter that can be plugged into the car provides an electrical outlet that can be used for a strip. The newer ones often come with USB outlets as well. Just remember, you have to run the engine if you use an inverter or you’ll kill your car battery. You can find a selection here.
Here are some links to outage updates/maps:
