Seattle City Light             News Release

SEATTLE — A new weather front has moved into the area causing isolated power outages. Outages are appearing in areas hit hard by the December 14th windstorm, including Shoreline and Delridge. Shoreline had 200 customers without power earlier today with restoration within two hours. Currently, approximately 400 customers are without power in an area that includes: 35th and 46th SW on the east and west, and SW Graham and SW Southern on the north and south; an additional outage area is: Delridge Way SW and SW 16th on the east and west, and SW Findlay and SW Myrtle on the north and south. “We have crews dispatched to the Delridge area now. What we are seeing is that some of the temporary repairs from the last storm event are now getting hit by this latest weather system,” says Chris Heimgartner, energy delivery officer at Seattle City Light. “We have areas in our system that were seriously damaged by the mid-December windstorm and we expect to see isolated outages as a result.” City Light reminds customers that the soil is soaked, and some trees were weakened from the last storm, so even a mild storm could cause more damage and more outages. Seattle City Light urges customers to be prepared in the event of more weather-related problems. There were lessons learned from the last storm that perhaps will help customers to be better equipped for any future storm emergencies:

1. Have an emergency kit ready. A kit is simple to put together and can cost less than $25. Emergency kits should include flashlights, fresh batteries, wind-up clock, portable radio, mylar blankets and a manual can-opener. A supply of canned and dry food is recommended along with surge protectors for sensitive electronic equipment.
2. DO NOT cook food indoors on a barbecue grill that burns fossil fuels (propane, charcoal, etc.).
3. DO NOT heat your home with carbon-monoxide emitting fuels, such as coal, propane or kerosene in an unventilated device.
4. DO NOT operate a generator inside your home or garage; it must be well ventilated.
5. Have contact sources who are outside of the area and who can give you up-dated information from City Light’s Web site.
6. Use the portable, battery-operated radio from your emergency kit for the latest outage information. KOMO 1000 and KIRO 710 have the most current updates.
7. Have the phone number and address of the closest community center to you to see if they are offering temporary/emergency shelter if needed.
8. Have the phone number and address of nearby grocery stores to see if they are open.
9. Cell phones are useful during an outage. They can be re-charged with a manual, hand-cranked recharger or a battery powered recharger. A telephone that operates on a hard wire (land line) can be useful too. Cordless phones won’t work if there is a power outage.

What to Do When the Lights Go Out

• Check your circuit breaker or a fuse box first. Learn how to reset the circuit breaker or safely change a fuse, and keep proper spares.
• Look around the neighborhood to see if your neighbor's lights are off.
• Stay away from any downed lines – they are dangerous and should be reported immediately to City Light at (206) 684-3000.
• Call Customer Service at (206) 684-3000 to report the outage or call the Power Outage Hotline at (206) 684-7400 to hear a recorded message about current outages and power restoration updates. If your neighborhood is not listed, then stay on the line to provide your address and additional information.
• Call (206) 684-TREE (684-8733) to report a downed tree on the street or sidewalk.
• Beware of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use generators or portable grills indoors, even in a garage. Always use them outdoors with plenty of ventilation to avoid toxic fumes.
• Use battery-powered flashlights for illumination. Avoid candles, oil lamps or anything with an open flame.
• Dress in layers to conserve body heat.
• Close doors, windows, curtains and unused fireplace dampers to keep heat from escaping.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible to keep food fresh. A full refrigerator will maintain safe temperatures for up to six hours; a full freezer for up to two days. Discard at-risk refrigerated foods that are warmer than 45 degrees F. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Check your home alarm system. Some home alarm systems are triggered by power outages.
• Use hot water sparingly. Most hot water tanks will retain heat for up to 24 hours.
• Unplug or turn off sensitive electronic equipment to protect it from power surges.
• Cordless phones will not work without electricity. Have a cell phone or corded phone available.
• Locate and use the manual override for your electric garage doors or gates.
• Leave one or two lights on to alert you that service is restored.
• When power is restored, turn on electrical appliances gradually. Sudden heavy consumption can drain the electrical system and extend the outage.

Media outlets are asked to link their Web site to the Seattle City Light’s home page for more information and outage up-dates: www.seattle.gov/light.

The Seattle City Light Web Team: