1,100 Without Power In Bellevue: What to Do in Case of a Power Outage

The snowfall and the icy conditions has meant that power was out for more than 200,000 homes and businesses throughout western Washington Thursday, including 1,100 people in Bellevue.

The utility reported on its Facebook page that it make take three to four days for power to be fully restored to the areas it serves in Washington:

We can’t make full estimate of how long the restoration effort will take until the ice and snow storm – and the damage it’s causing -- ends and our crews can make a comprehensive assessment of the damage. But right now, we think it will be 3 to 4 days…maybe longer.

According to the utility's service alert page, the outages are scattered throughout Bellevue and includes areas in the 98004, 98006, and 98008 ZIP codes. 

According to the utility's Facebook page, crews Thursday morning are working under extremely difficult conditions and power outages continue:

Trees and limbs, weighed down by ice-encrusted snow, are breaking off and damaging power lines, resulting in new power outages to tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

So far, Puget Sound Energy hasn't released any official notices regarding the extent of Bellevue outages, but it did post the following statement on its website earlier:

The heavy snowfall and winds that hit much of Western Washington on Wednesday have weighted down tree limbs and caused small, scattered power outages across Puget Sound Energy's service area. PSE crews are responding to the outages and restoring electric service as quickly as possible. Please take appropriate steps to keep you and your family safe and comfortable in the event your service is interrupted. If you haven’t already done so, prepare an emergency kit that includes extra blankets and battery-operated lighting. Follow us on PSE.com, Facebook, and Twitter for updated information.

To report a power outage to your home, call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 (select menu option 1), though users of the Facebook page report that the line is very busy.

Power outage advice from King County

Beware of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Power continues to be out in some parts of the region, including all of Vashon Island.  We know that when power is out for extended periods, the risk of injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning goes up.  Protect yourself and your family by taking precautions:

• During a power outage or at any other time, do not operate fuel-powered machinery such as a generator indoors, including the garage.  Keep your generator away from open windows or vents while it is running.
• Do not cook or heat with charcoal barbeques inside your home.
• Avoid combustion "space heaters" unless there is an exhaust vent.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can strike suddenly and without warning. In some cases, physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include severe headache, nausea and vomiting, and lethargy and fatigue. If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Call for medical help from a neighbor's home. The Fire Department will tell you when it is safe to reenter the home.

For a full list of carbon monoxide prevention tips and other safety and disaster information in English and other languages, visit: http://kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/disaster.aspx

 If power goes out where you live, keep food safe: Keep the doors closed on your refrigerators and freezers as much as possible. This keeps the cold air inside. A full freezer can stay at freezing temperatures about two days; a half-full freezer about 1 day. 

If you think the power will be out for several days, try to find some ice to pack inside your refrigerator. Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods.  Refrigerated foods should be safe as long as the power is out no more than a few hours and the refrigerator/freezer doors have been kept closed. Throw away potentially hazardous foods (such as meat and fish) if they warm up above 41º F.

Frozen foods that remain frozen are OK to eat. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed (such as meat and fish), but are still cold or have ice crystals on them, you should use them as soon as possible. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed and are warmer than 41º F, you should throw them away.