WHIDBEY ISLAND – With the power out and plunging temperatures ahead, officials on Whidbey Island opened shelters Friday and urged people to do their best to stay safe and warm.
All of Whidbey Island lost power Thursday night when Puget Sound Energy’s main transmission line to the island was taken out by falling trees, said Dennis Smedsrud, a spokesman for the utility.
He said the utility hoped to get that transmission line fixed sometime Friday night, allowing some of the island’s 36,000 homes to have their electricity restored.
Still, it will take days to repair all of the individualized outages on the island, which was hammered by some of the storm’s strongest winds.
Smedsrud said winds exceeded 90 mph. “That’s about as bad as you ever want to get.”
People on the island should expect that they may not have their power restored for four to seven days, said Jan Smith, spokeswoman for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.
The strong winds caused storm surges along low-lying coastal areas of Whidbey Island, cluttering roads and beaches with driftwood and debris. Several roads remained impassable Friday afternoon.
To assist in getting people help during emergencies, Smith urged people to limit calls to law enforcement.
Three respite centers were opened on the island Friday:
* Oak Harbor Senior Center – 51 SE Jerome St., Oak Harbor, open 24 hours through the weekend as needed.
* Coupeville Recreation Hall – NW Coveland Street, Coupeville, open on an as needed basis.
* Trinity Lutheran Church, 18341 Highway 525, Freeland.
In addition, on Saturday Naval Air Station Whidbey Island plans to open its family service center on Ault Field for military dependents requiring shelter or assistance.
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