Urgent: Power Restoration Efforts Intensify in Clark County

UPDATE: As of late Wednesday night, utility crews in Clark County, Washington are working tirelessly to restore power after a severe storm left as many as 98,000 customers without electricity earlier today. The outages began around 1:30 a.m., as strong winds and falling trees wreaked havoc across the region.

According to Clark Public Utilities, this unprecedented storm has caused significant disruptions, with the number of outages now reduced to approximately 5,000 customers as restoration efforts continue. Spokesperson Dameon Pesanti stated, “Things have been very busy. We’re working to restore power, triage the damage, and build a plan.”

Residents are feeling the impact personally. Local resident Andrew Colver expressed his concerns while navigating darkened streets in east Vancouver. “I hope the lights get turned back on and my freezer full of salmon doesn’t go bad,” he said. Colver added, “We don’t miss electricity until it’s gone,” highlighting the immediate disruption to daily life caused by the outages.

The storm has also affected businesses, with popular restaurant Grains of Wrath in downtown Camas forced to close due to storm damage. The establishment posted on social media, stating they would be “closed until further notice due to storm damage.” Local patron Linda Mallon shared her frustration, saying, “Power is hit or miss throughout town. Some places are open, and right next door some are closed.”

Pesanti has urged customers to report outages to assist crews in quickly locating and addressing damage. He warned against approaching downed power lines, especially near standing water. “It’s not worth the risk,” he emphasized, as crews prepare for potential additional storms in the coming days.

The community is rallying around utility workers, with Colver expressing gratitude: “I know they’re working very hard. Thank you very much for all that you’re doing.”

As restoration efforts continue, residents are encouraged to stay informed and remain safe during this challenging time. The situation is developing, and updates will follow as crews work to bring power back to the remaining customers in Clark County.