West Seattle windstorm: Sunday power outage, cleanup updates

(Added: WSB photo, trees blocking sidewalk, southbound Fauntleroy by The Kenney)
7:18 AM: As dawn breaks, hundreds of West Seattleites (including us) are among the 14,000 listed by Seattle City Light as still without power.

We’ll be updating that and cleanup – of trees and debris – as the day unfolds. Thanks to everyone who shared updates from their neighborhoods during as-it-happened coverage last night, and please let us know what you’re dealing with today. The forecast indicates the worst of the weather is past. Meantime, for those wondering, the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival is still on as scheduled, 10 am-2 pm. We’ll have the daily “what’s happening” list up by 8:30 am, and it leads the way.

8:14 AM UPDATE: If you’re without power and/or cable/internet service, please be sure you’ve reported it (again, if necessary) – things are still in flux; we’ve noticed the City Light map jumped from 14,000 out to 18,000 out in the past hour or so (service-area-wide) – and please note that even if there is an estimate listed for restoration, it’s just a guesstimate, and SCL will be the first to tell you that; ours, for example, originally was guesstimated at 2 am-ish, and now that’s pushed back to 2 pm-ish. If you’re looking to watch the Seahawks game – most affected by the outage are residential, not business, so there’s LOTS of places to watch. WSB sponsor Feedback Lounge, for one.

8:35 AM UPDATE: Via Twitter, Comcast acknowledges outages and says they’re deploying generators “where it will help.”

10:13 AM UPDATE: Be careful when you’re out there – trees are still blocking roads and sidewalks, like the ones that came down in front of The Kenney (WSB sponsor) – we added a photo atop this story – in the 7100 block of Fauntleroy. The wind did other damage – this photo is via Twitter:

That building’s been undergoing renovations.

11:14 AM: City Light still lists 2,100 without power in its service area. Parts of Gatewood and Upper Fauntleroy (including our HQ) are among the last big pockets in West Seattle. And while the wind has mostly passed – the rain hasn’t (big shower right now while the Harvest Festival continues in The Junction).

12:13 PM: Important reminder from Stephanie:

REMINDER!!! When the lights are out you must treat like a 4-way stop. People are blowing through the light out at 35th and Webster on 35th. I fear an accident (although I guess the fire station is super close).

Also, we heard earlier today from Samantha in the 6000 block of 46th SW, looking to get some help dismantling a big tree that came down.

If you have a chainsaw, she said, you can have some of the firewood, and lunch. Caveat: It’s been a while since we first heard from her and our mention of this was delayed but if you’re in the neighborhood, maybe go check!

1:37 PM: Samantha posted an update in comments – the tree’s been cut up but there’s still some firewood to be had. Meantime, branches are still falling from trees – look what this dashcam caught:

We hear power is back in a few more neighborhoods including ours – we’ll be heading home from the Harvest Festival shortly and will report back. City Light tweeted earlier that some in the service area might not be back until early tomorrow.

2:40 PM: Back from the Harvest Festival and can verify that the map is accurate as least so far as our neighborhood goes.

46 Replies to "West Seattle windstorm: Sunday power outage, cleanup updates"

  • LeighLew October 26, 2014 (7:25 am)

    Still without power on the 3900 block of SW Austin.

  • miws October 26, 2014 (7:27 am)

    Just now about to revisit last night’s Article, to see what transpired last night after about 10:45 or so.

    .

    After skimming it about an hour and a half ago, and seeing many more power outages noted, I feel very fortunate to have not lost power on 16th, in Highland Park/S. Delridge.

    .

    The only thing I noticed last evening, was a few flickers of the lamp, between about 8:30 and 9:00. Didn’t even cause the TV to flicker, and the clocks on all appliances are showing normal time this morning.

    .

    Mike

  • Amys October 26, 2014 (7:46 am)

    Power went out at 8:15 pm on 17th and Holly and remains out this morning. Latest estimate for power is 10:00 am. Sigh

  • Karen R October 26, 2014 (7:53 am)

    Our power came back in the Arroyos about 3:00am

  • Rose St Dave October 26, 2014 (8:07 am)

    We came home last night to find many of our neighbors in the dark but we were fully powered. The problem we have is that our cable and internet are down, I’m posting this from my cellular data. Is anyone else experiencing this outage as well? Quite disastrous on the morning of a 10am Seahawks game.

  • Rose St Dave October 26, 2014 (8:25 am)

    Checked the Comcast website and there is indeed an internet and cable outage at our house in the 4100 block of SW Rose. The Seahawks game is fast approaching so I hope they get their act together!

  • seattletimebandit October 26, 2014 (8:27 am)

    We are on Whidbey Island since yesterday and have been monitoring the situation since last night. I contacted our neighbors and no power loss, but cable/Internet has been out since about 9:30 last night, and it’s still out. (Gatewood, near 41st and Monroe)

  • Kami October 26, 2014 (9:20 am)

    Who’s responsible for removing and cleaning a tree that has fallen into the street. The tree was on our property but is now blocking the road.

    • WSB October 26, 2014 (9:22 am)

      Call 911 re road hazards

  • M. October 26, 2014 (9:20 am)

    Power still out between 39th and 41st on Kenyon in Gatewood. Luckily alarm system on battery back up.

  • Luvy October 26, 2014 (9:21 am)

    21st and Graham still no power.

  • HelperMonkey October 26, 2014 (10:13 am)

    There’s a tree down at The Kenney! :(

    • WSB October 26, 2014 (10:15 am)

      Thanks HM, we mentioned it last night and I photographed it while en route to the Junction, adding the pic shortly.

  • Matchbeezie October 26, 2014 (10:22 am)

    Still no power on Puget Ridge. So close to cop shop, would think for safety sake we’d be back up quick. Ahhhh, but I’m sure they have generators.

  • John October 26, 2014 (10:40 am)

    Kami,
    The property owners are responsible for trees, tree maintenance and tree safety for the trees on their property.

    With Seattle’s ever increasing tree requirements and regulations, more and more tree danger, damage to property and costs for delays, lost work and repairs can be expected.

  • Chris L October 26, 2014 (11:12 am)

    Still without power on California between Othello and Webster. Seattle City Light says they know about our block (even though it’s not listed on the outage map) but there is no estimated time of restoration.

  • ej October 26, 2014 (11:15 am)

    So….. I’ve reported our outage 3 times now because City Light says we are not in an outage area which is funny because the map shows that we are and the whole neighborhood is dark… Tracy & Patric- we live right next to you… Am I wrong?! :) Is ther an estimated time of when the power will be back?

    • WSB October 26, 2014 (11:20 am)

      EJ – the phone system thing must be a glitch – our area is definitely on the outage map (I just looked a moment ago). Latest guesstimate is 4:30 pm but as I keep saying, don’t take any stock in that. It was 2 am, then it was 2 pm, SCL has explained that the estimates are just based on a sort of projection from past outages and really not on “we know crew X will fix neighborhood Y at time Z.”

  • 1000amys October 26, 2014 (12:08 pm)

    On Puget Ridge (21st at Holly) City Light now says no estimated time for power to be restored.

  • Joe October 26, 2014 (12:09 pm)

    We’re still out near WSB between 41st and 42nd. 42nd is out. East side Of 41st has power, west side is out.

  • Christina October 26, 2014 (12:15 pm)

    Power outage still in effect since 11 pm last night in Sunrise Heights area.

  • RoseAnne October 26, 2014 (12:23 pm)

    Has power returned yet to 4th and California Gateway neighborhood. My sister is in Redmond at a soccer game and would love to know if her power is back on.

    • WSB October 26, 2014 (12:28 pm)

      RoseAnne – I wish we could go check – but we’re in the field until just after 2 pm. The City Light map should show … http://seattle.gov/light/sysstat

  • 1000amys October 26, 2014 (12:25 pm)

    Ha ha, they were just messing with us! Power is back on…for now. Going to heat up some lunch and charge phones.

  • Sage K October 26, 2014 (12:33 pm)

    Sweet merciful Zeus, power is finally back on in Delridge.

  • seattletimebandit October 26, 2014 (12:48 pm)

    Just saw a big SCL truck drive north on 41st and turn east on Kenyon.

  • Mike L October 26, 2014 (12:50 pm)

    Been without internet on the 6900 block of 40th ave SW since early this morning… :(

  • Saltwater October 26, 2014 (12:56 pm)

    35th between Othello & Webster still out with no estimated time for restoration. In ’05 we were out from Thursday night until Sunday afternoon on the east side of the street. West side of 35th was on by Friday. I fear a repeat.

  • Samantha October 26, 2014 (1:00 pm)

    This is Samantha from the post above. Some helpful friends and neighbors chopped up the tree and we’re waiting for someone to come haul this afternoon. Some free firewood for anyone who wants to come by and help themselves in the meantime. Thanks WSB for posting!

  • ArborHeights October 26, 2014 (1:06 pm)

    Are any Centurylink customers having trouble with their service? Our landline and internet is down with them and they are saying it will be days for a tech to come out.

  • Sukie October 26, 2014 (1:06 pm)

    Power still out in Gatewood (Austin near 35th). No estimate from City Lights but there’s a crew up the street working –hopefully it’s for our outage. I guess we’re part of the final 2k without power.

  • Barry2012 October 26, 2014 (1:30 pm)

    7500 block of California…still no power:( we’re at California and Austin

  • Jeannie October 26, 2014 (1:33 pm)

    @Sukie, I think we must be neighbors. I spoke with one of the City Light crew on SW Austin; he said it was difficult to give an estimate since there’s damage from the downed tree. Perhaps later this afternoon or tonight – we can only hope! It’s cold in our house, 62 degrees. I’m at Uptown, trying to get some work done.

  • Chris L October 26, 2014 (1:45 pm)

    @Barry2012, we are still out too. We’re not far from you between Othello and Webster off of California. The neighbor across the street has a line dangling from the pole which I reported this morning. Hoping that’s just cable and not a power line.

  • FairmountResident October 26, 2014 (2:01 pm)

    Trees and lines still down in Fairmount Ravine. Likely be no power until Monday. We are always low on the city priority list in the ravine.

  • Kathy October 26, 2014 (2:06 pm)

    Any suggestions as to a tree service to remove downed trees? We have one on power line in back yard.

  • MKD October 26, 2014 (2:14 pm)

    @arborheights We’re in Arbor Heights, too, with no phone or Internet service. The CenturyLink website says they’re aware of the outage in 98146. They’re working on it and hope to have service restored within 24 hours.

  • Sukie October 26, 2014 (2:15 pm)

    @Jeannie thanks for the update. I called City Light about 30 minutes ago and she guesstimates between 3 and 4 pm. Here’s hoping because the temp is dropping in my house.

  • Debra October 26, 2014 (2:32 pm)

    Power out at 8:00 last night, spent today running errands, sat way too long at Endolynes, they were so nice and charged my devices, got my nails done with extra long massage. I just want to go home 7100 block of California Deb

  • Sukie October 26, 2014 (2:42 pm)

    @Jeannie and anyone else in Gatewood. My power just came back on about 10 minutes ago (Austin near 35th) so hopefully yours is back too.

  • gatewood resident October 26, 2014 (3:05 pm)

    If you still don’t have power you might want to talk to someone at SCL. I called SCL a few minutes ago, but chose to talk with a person instead of the automated status update, and found out that the system indicates our power was turned back on at 8am which it absolutely is not. SCL reissued a trouble ticket for our area. Maybe they think your power is on.

  • Jw October 26, 2014 (3:20 pm)

    The picture is a bit grainy, but is that a 30mph speed limit sign? Dash cam showed 43mph at impact….just thought it was funny. Hope it wasn’t a police car.

  • Christina October 26, 2014 (3:25 pm)

    Othello/Webster on 35th if your power is still out SCL said electricity was restored at 8am this morning, which it wasn’t. Call SCL and let them know if your power is still out.

  • Jeannie October 26, 2014 (4:48 pm)

    SO relieved that power (including heat) is back on, and kudos to the hardworking City Light crew. A tough job, and they came through for us! And, indeed, there were glitches in City Light’s phone system – I think that their controversial superintendent (he of “coppergate” and the inept handling of his massive raise) might want to check into this, as well as the website, once the winds have abated and the dust has settled. The priority was restoring power, then onto restoring our faith in customer service.

  • Gatewood October 26, 2014 (6:00 pm)

    Ridiculous, one of the first to lose power but yet the last to get fixed. Entire Gatewood block still waiting for response. How many houses have to be out before we are considered a priority.

  • Dave October 26, 2014 (8:33 pm)

    Comcast cable and Internet still out mercer island. rep said they will have fixed within a week ?!?!?!

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