People all around the Puget Sound region woke up to cold homes, down trees and no way to make coffee on Wednesday morning.
We all have questions after Tuesday’s wind storm. Cascade PBS is here to help. Let us know if you have more questions and we’ll do our best to update this story.
When will the power be back on?
Your power company has been posting regular updates on their websites and posting on social media. Here’s the interactive map for Seattle City Light, which was reporting about 43,000 customers without power. Here’s the map for Puget Sound Energy, which was reporting more than 400,000 customers without power. Tacoma Public Utilities says its customers should log into their account for information. Snohomish County PUD is reporting more than 70,000 customers without power.
How can I find out if roads are open?
King County offers this useful map of road closures. The Washington Department of Transportation has a portal for assessing roads statewide including access to their traffic cams. And this page allows you to search for more information about ferries and roads. But Washington DOT would prefer you stay home if you can today.
Is transit an option during the power outage?
Sound Transit says Link Light Rail is running but people with limited mobility should check their transit app before heading out. Buses are running wherever they can, but don’t leave home before checking alerts on X or the One Bus Away app or website.
Are local schools open?
Most parents have probably already figured out if their kids have school today. But if you’re curious, check the searchable school closure list at KING 5. Only some of Seattle’s schools were closed on Wednesday, but all the schools in Bellevue, Issaquah, Shoreline and many others were closed for the day.
Can I eat the food in my fridge?
The USDA has pretty strict advice on what’s safe to eat in your fridge after the power goes out, but if you keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as possible, you may not lose it all. And if you decide it’s time to do a big bar-be-cue to eat all that food before it goes to waste, do not under any circumstances bring your grill into the house. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a common tragedy during long power outages.
