Residents of Whidbey Island in Washington are facing prolonged power outages as utility crews work to restore electricity after a severe windstorm hit the area. The storm, which brought winds of up to 71 mph, knocked out power for thousands, leaving residents to rely on generators and lining up to fill propane tanks as they wait for services to resume, KOMO News reports.
As of yesterday evening, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) had reported that 10,186 customers were still without power, and with the subsequent onslaught of gusty winds the situation was further exacerbated, slowing down repair efforts and complicating the work of the 13 PSE crews that were scrambled across the island, according to FOX 13 Seattle. PSE has indicated that while most customers are expected to see their power restored by tonight, there are certain areas where outages may continue tomorrow, the winds yesterday not only slowed crews down but caused additional damage.
Local businesses and residents have shown resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. "Pickles Deli" has kept its doors open, running on generator power to serve "an endless line of customers" while offering free Wi-Fi and a neighborhood fund to help those in need, MyNorthwest conveyed. “We have heat. We have free Wi-Fi. We have coffee flowing all day,” owner Chantell Boyle told MyNorthwest, emphasizing the deli's commitment to serving the community.
Meanwhile, the South Whidbey - Bayview Senior Center is adapting their services to meet community needs, suspending visits but maintaining their meal program to support those most vulnerable who could "definitely wait two or three days" for power, Chantell Boyle from the deli smiled as she reflected on the community’s grit, in a statement obtained by MyNorthwest. Nonetheless, the whole island has been affected by the outages with residents like Rocky Shore, a homeowner from Clinton, relying on his generator for two days and expressing that although the recovery efforts usually start from the north and work their way south, they are the last ones to have the lights turned on, he explained to KOMO News.
