SPOKANE — More than 100 crews of linemen continued Wednesday to work on the neighborhoods still without power after last week’s windstorm.
Power has been out for nine days for about 12,000 customers and Avista Utilities officials said the company hoped to restore power to most of those people by Wednesday night.
The crews will continue to work on Thanksgiving, with about 5,000 customers expected to remain without power at least through Friday.
Electricity has so far been returned to 93 percent of the 180,000 customers who lost power after one of the region’s worst windstorms on record.
Work is focused on homes within the following ZIP codes: 99203, 99205 and 99223.
In many of the neighborhoods the crews are having to work on damaged power poles and downed wires in backyards that serve perhaps a handful of houses. It makes the job more time consuming, according to Avista.
Inland Power and Light has 50 to 70 outages that are considered complex individual cases that include damaged homes where power cannot be safely restored.
All streets in the city should have been cleared of fallen trees and other debris. If a road is blocked, report the location to the city at 921-1000.
About 400 volunteers have gone to 7,300 homes since last Friday to check on people and hand out extra blankets, food and other necessities.
Police increase patrols
Spokane police have bolstered patrol in the hardest-hit areas to discourage looting of homes after dark.
Residents are encouraged to secure generators and other items and to keep watch in their neighborhoods for suspicious activities.
Agencies offer help
For those without power, warming centers remain open. The Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs has delivered firewood and tarps to cover roofs.
Agencies also released an Emergency Resource Guide consolidating resources and services tied to the windstorm at srhd.org/documents/EmergencyResourcesGuide.pdf.
The Red Cross shelter in Spokane Valley and a Girl Scouts shelter closed Wednesday. The agency 2-1-1 will continue to help and be open throughout the weekend.
Current DSHS clients receiving SNAP/Basic Food benefits can request benefits to replace spoiled food, but the request must be received within 10 days of the loss. Call DSHS at 1-877-501-2233.
