High winds on Christmas Day dropped trees and knocked out power lines, leaving 1,400 Jefferson County Public Utility District (PUD) customers without power right in the midst …
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High winds on Christmas Day dropped trees and knocked out power lines, leaving 1,400 Jefferson County Public Utility District (PUD) customers without power right in the midst of holiday festivities.
The first area hit was the Mats Mats Bay area at around 1 p.m. leaving 32 customers without power. As the afternoon progressed, area winds gusted up to 30 miles per hour and by 2 p.m. 142 customers were reported without power.
With high winds persisting, the situation peaked at about 3 p.m with the PUD web page reporting five outages in East Jefferson County and 1,425 customers without power. Blown down trees and limbs were responsible for all the outages. In the Port Hadlock core area, power returned in just under an hour. According to PUD outage tracking data, all power was restored by 8:30 p.m.
With winter storm season in full swing, PUD managers recommend staying winter storm savvy by following these tips.
Power outage safety outside
If a utility line is on the ground, stay at least 50 feet away. Treat any line on the ground like it is live. Neighborhood distribution lines often carry 7,200 volts and service lines to homes often carry 240 volts and each can be deadly. Lines in contact with an object such as a vehicle, tree or handrail, can also be deadly as the object may give no indication of being electrified. Any downed lines should be treated with extreme caution and reported immediately to the PUD’s call center. Residents can report outages or lines down by calling the PUD at 360-385-5800, or reporting it via the SmartHub online portal. If no one answers, PUD personnel are likely processing many calls. If you cannot get through initially, please wait about five minutes and try again. During a major outage Jefferson PUD will have a short outgoing message describing the outage and where it is. During a major storm event, the PUD does not provide information regarding when power will be restored.
Outage safety inside
Do not use gasoline-powered machinery, such as generators in any enclosed space. Operate generators outdoors. Appliances should be plugged directly into the generator using heavy duty, properly-grounded extension cords that aren’t worn or frayed. Do not connect a generator to your home without the use of a professionally installed transfer switch. Do not use charcoal grills indoors. Dangerous carbon monoxide generated from them and other fuel-burning devices can and do kill people every year. Do not use a gas range or oven for room heating. A fuel-burning heater, such as a kerosene heater, requires plenty of ventilation to prevent buildup of harmful fumes. Place heaters on a hard, stable surface away from flammable materials. Never leave children or pets alone when using a portable heater. Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed and open them only when necessary. Food will usually stay frozen for 36-48 hours in a fully loaded freezer if you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours. Turn off lights and appliances. When the lights go out, unplug sensitive electronic devices like computers to avoid a circuit overload when power is restored. Leave one light switch on so you’ll know when service returns.
Outage information
For larger outages, the PUD routinely updates its main webpage and social media feeds. Residents can subscribe to NIXLE for updates from Jefferson County Emergency Management. NIXLE is a free text and email service providing timely information about regional emergency events. Listen to local radio stations such as KPTZ (91.9 FM) or KSQM (91.5 FM) for emergency management status updates.