POULSBO — Severe-weather shelters will be open and emergency crews are at the ready in anticipation of a high-wind storm Dec. 11.
The Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management activated the county’s Severe Weather Shelter Plan on Dec. 11. Both shelters will open Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. and remain open until Dec. 12 at 7 a.m. The shelters are at Bremerton Food Line, 1600 12th St., Bremerton; and North Kitsap Fire & Rescue, 26642 Miller Bay Road NE, Kingston. For information on getting to a shelter, call 211.
You can track power outages in the area with Puget Sound Energy’s online outage map.
Ray Lane of Puget Sound Energy said the storm means there’s potential for widespread power outages and wind damage.
“We have Electric Operating Bases throughout our service area that will be working on where to deploy local crews,” Lane reported. “PSE has already increased staffing in key operations areas throughout the company. Overnight, at least 30 crews from other utility and power companies arrived in our area to help with restoration efforts. A crew is made up of three to four workers, with the team manning a lineman’s bucket truck and support vehicles.”
Outside crews are being sent to certain regions, including Kitsap, to join with PSE crews to get ready for possible problems, Lane reported.
“There’s a process to our restoration efforts,” Lane reported. “First, it needs to be safe to work so crews may need to wait until winds ease before they can head out. It could take several hours during an outage event for the strongest of the winds to die down.
“We need time to assess the damage, prioritize the responses, and then dispatch our crews. If there’s damage to transmission and distribution lines — which are the high voltage wires that carry the bulk of electricity — that will be our primary restoration focus. We also aim to restore critical services first — such as hospitals and police and fire departments — followed by restoring power to the greatest number of customers as quickly as we can.”
Lane recommended that residents make sure they have emergency supplies on hand, such as extra batteries, flashlights, and food. Have a battery-powered radio ready to go. Charge phones and mobile devices in case the power goes out. Download the PSE mobile outage app.
“A reminder for everyone — never touch downed power lines,” Lane reported. “Always assume they’re energized. Call PSE at 888-225-5773 or 911 to report outages and other electric problems.”
The National Weather Service’s high-wind warning is in effect until Dec. 12 at 4 a.m. A high-wind warning means that a hazardous wind event is imminent or occurring.
“High winds are likely to first develop across Grays Harbor, Thurston, Pierce and Lewis counties after 4 p.m. [Dec. 11],” the National Weather Service reported. “The remaining lowlands including Puget Sound and the north interior will have high wind gusts developing after 6 p.m.
“South to southwest winds across the southwest interior and Puget Sound will rapidly rise to 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph this evening, then gradually ease later in the evening. Areas from Admiralty Inlet northward will have south to southeast wind of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 65 mph, slowly easing after midnight. Strongest winds will occur along shorelines and locations exposed to southerly wind. Winds will diminish across western washington by daybreak [Dec. 12].
“Winds this strong will topple large trees. Widespread power outages are likely to occur given the saturated soils from recent heavy rain. Strong winds could impact the evening commute, especially from Seattle northward.”
The National Weather Service advises that if you plan to use an alternate source of heat or electricity during power outages, observe all safety precautions to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution, or a fire. Portable generators should only be used outdoors in a dry and well-ventilated area. Do not use a barbecue grill to heat your home as it can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning and/or a fire.
