Parts of Tukwila and nearby south Seattle neighborhoods woke up Saturday to a full-on power headache, as a widespread outage killed electricity to homes and storefronts along the Allentown corridor. The blackout took down traffic signals and left several neighborhoods in the dark, tangling early commutes and prompting pre-dawn safety warnings while city and utility crews scrambled to respond.
Local officials, utility crews respond
In an early morning post, the Tukwila Police Department warned that “there is a power outage impacting several areas of the city including most of Allentown,” and reported that Seattle City Light crews were on the way, according to Tukwila Police Department. Officers urged drivers to treat intersections with dead signals as four-way stops and to use extra caution crossing busy streets. Police said they are coordinating with utility crews as they work to pin down the full scope of the outage.
Which neighborhoods are dark
Seattle City Light’s outage map shows multiple trouble spots across south Seattle and Tukwila, including reports of outages in Allentown, Duwamish, Foster and Rainier View. The utility’s online map and the city’s emergency blog are being updated with estimated restoration times as crews narrow in on the cause, according to AlertSeattle.
Traffic and safety
Officials are reminding residents to steer clear of any downed lines and to treat every darkened intersection like a four-way stop. “Treat all darkened intersections as a four-way stop and to be cautious of drivers who may not stop,” AlertSeattle advises. The site also lists the number for traffic signal problems at 206-386-1206, along with emergency reporting guidance. Anyone who spots a live wire is urged to stay back and call 911 immediately.
How to check restoration times
Seattle City Light customers can track current restoration estimates on the utility’s online outage map and can report outages by calling (206) 684-3000 or using the outage page, per Seattle City Light. The utility also provides information for customers who rely on life-support equipment and recommends planning for backup power or temporary relocation if necessary.
Recent history of outages in the area
This pocket of south King County has dealt with intermittent outages in recent months, including a late May disruption that knocked out power to large sections of Tukwila and triggered similar safety warnings. Earlier reporting chronicled that blackout and the traffic mess created by dark signals, a reminder of why officials are pushing for extra caution again today, per Dark Night In Tukwila.
