Press release

An unexpected windstorm knocked over power poles and left customers without power along S.W. 152nd Street in Burien and in Tukwila on Christmas day.

Seattle City Light trimmed trees along 450 miles of power lines in 2011 to reduce the risk of storm-related outages, but falling branches and trees are always a concern in high winds.



City Light officials say one important step residents can take is to put together an emergency preparedness kit. A kit should include enough food and supplies to last a family for at least three days.

The kit should include hand-crank or battery-operated flashlight and radio, fresh batteries, a survival blanket, a first aid kit, pocket tissues and hand sanitizer wipes. For a checklist and other tips, go to www.takewinterbystorm.org.



City Light also reminds customers to be safe. Downed lines can be dangerous.

Here’s what customers can do if they experience a power outage:


Do not go near any downed wire. Wires should always be assumed to be "live" and dangerous. If someone seeks a downed wire, they should call 206- 684-3000. A woman was trapped in her car along S.W. 152nd between downed power liones and a tree on Dec. 25. She wisely called 9-1-1 for help and stayed in her vehicle until rescued.

Do not use a barbecue grill or generator inside the house or in a garage that is attached to the house. Do not use a grill or generator near a home air intake vent or near windows.

Do not use fossil fuel burning auxiliary heating sources.

Know how to manually override electric garage doors, security doors and gates.

Have a land line phone or fully charged cell phone available. Cordless phones won’t work when the power is out.

Make sure the utility company has your home phone number and your cell phone number to ensure the system recognizes your telephone number if you call in to report an outage. Update your account information.


Unplug electrical appliances if the power goes out so that when the power comes back on, there won’t be a surge that could damage sensitive electronic equipment.


Use battery-powered flashlights -- not candles or oil lamps.


Close doors, windows, curtains, and unused fireplace dampers to retain heat if there is an outage.

A reminder that you can now track power outages on your mobile phone if you have Internet access. Just type into your browser http://m.seattle.gov/light for the latest information while you’re on the go.