Crews respond to power outages

Published 10:54 pm Saturday, October 4, 2008

EVERETT — As many as 11,000 households and businesses throughout Snohomish County lost power Saturday.

Crews were working throughout the day to return electricity to residences, Snohomish County Public Utility District spokesman Neil Neroutsos said.

Most of the outages were short-lived, but about 1,000 customers were still left without power late Saturday, he said.

“We will be working as long as it takes to get everybody up and running,” Neroutsos said.

Gusts of up to 40 mph knocked tree limbs into overhead power lines, causing power outages throughout the entire Puget Sound area.

Seattle City Light reported that some 10,000 customers in and near the city were without electricity as of late Saturday afternoon.

Outages were reported in the Greenwood, Magnolia, Roosevelt, Lake Forest Park, Normandy Park, Burien, SeaTac and Madrona areas.

Kitsap County customers of Puget Sound Energy were also hard hit with scattered outages. Whatcom, Skagit and parts of King counties were also having outages.

The Coast Guard Sector Seattle Command Center received reports of boats adrift and overturning and boaters being blown into the water by heavy winds throughout the region.

A Coast Guard cutter and a helicopter crew went to Carr Inlet near Gig Harbor to assist in the rescue of eight kayakers. Two were rescued from the water, while the other six were able to make it to shore safely.