As Windy Weather Rolls In, WA Warned To Prepare For Power Outages

SEATTLE — Windy weather has arrived in Puget Sound. A strong storm system started pushing its way into Western Washington Sunday night, and is expected to remain through early Tuesday, bringing with it snow in the passes, potential for thunderstorms and yes, gusts in the lowlands.

As of Monday morning the gusty weather had caused over 100 small outages across King, Snohomish and Pierce counties— including one that knocked out power to Sumner City Hall and nearby intersections.

In case the outages get more severe, it's always good to be prepared, warns Seattle City Light. The agency has put together this helpful list of a few ways Western Washingtonians can get prepare for the worst:

• Have a kit ready. An emergency survival kit should have supplies for at least seven days.
• Stay up to date. Both Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy maintain live outage maps, which usually show the size and severity of the outage, and an estimated time for when power might be restored.
• Don't use gas or charcoal grills indoors. The exhaust fumes from both can be deadly in enclosed spaces. A carbon monoxide detector in your home can also help prevent illness or even death.
• Keep generators safely away from your home. Generators should be kept away from the main structure, outside and in a well-ventilated area.
• Stay away from downed power lines. You should stay at least 30 feet from any downed power line, even if it looks inert. Call 911 to report downed lines in your area.
• Asses your trees. Maybe not right now while it's windy, but when the weather has calmed check for broken or cracked branches that could fall down during a windstorm. Most cities offer services to help remove problem trees.