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Spokane, Wash. • Tens of thousands of people who have been shivering for nearly a week without power after deadly storms swept through Washington state are bracing for snowfall Monday and the possibility of preparing Thanksgiving dinner in the dark.
A major windstorm last Tuesday damaged the electrical grid in Spokane, the state's second-largest city. Winds topping 70 mph in the Northwest snapped power poles, flooded roadways and homes, and toppled trees that crashed through roofs and crushed cars. Three people died when trees fell on their vehicles.
More storms were expected to worsen the plight of more than 33,000 customers who have been living without heat and light amid subfreezing temperatures — the forecast calls for snow and wind chills dropping into the single digits Monday night. Stores sold out of firewood as people used wood stoves to heat their homes.
Crews are working around the clock, but the extent of destruction means most customers won't be able to turn on their heaters, TVs and light switches until late Wednesday evening, according to Avista Corp., the Spokane region's major electrical utility.
"Living without power in these cold conditions for several days is very stressful and trying," said Avista Chairman Scott Morris. "Let me assure you, we continue to dedicate every available resource at our disposal to restore your power as we recover from the worst natural disaster in our company's 126-year history."
Those still in the dark Monday were mostly in locations in Spokane County where it was most difficult to restore electrical service, Avista said. They represent about 20 percent of the company's customers in the county.
Spokane public schools have been closed since Wednesday because too many of them lack electricity. Five schools were operating as warming shelters for those without power and served a total of 2,100 meals to people on Saturday and Sunday, officials said.
Last week's storm initially knocked out power to 180,000 customers across eastern Washington and northern Idaho, Avista said.
The utility brought in line crews from across the West and Canada to try to rebuild its damaged system. Additional line crews arrived from Montana and Oregon on Sunday, and Avista has 123 crews working 24 hours a day to restore power, the company said.
"This workforce faces the daunting task of repairing the hundreds of miles of distribution lines that were destroyed in Tuesday's devastating windstorm that left a path of toppled trees, broken poles and tangled wire in its wake," Avista said.
Replacing one power pole can take up to six hours, the company said.