Power companies across the Inland Northwest are mobilizing crews tonight as severe thunderstorms with damaging winds approach the region, and Avista and Inland Power & Light Company said their workers are standing by. Residents are being warned to expect outages that could take longer than usual to fix.
David Vowels said the storm brings a lot of wind, and that the first hours after damage hits are often spent assessing what broke before repairs can start. He said restoration could be delayed if trees are down and crews need time to reach hard-hit areas.
That timing matters because utility workers may not be able to switch power back on immediately after a line goes down. Avista’s fire safety protocols require crews to inspect damage before restoring service when trees hit power lines, and that extra step can extend outages. Inland Power said it plans similar protocols next week.
Andy Barth said crews will work to assess the impacts and restore service safely as quickly as possible, but that process takes time. The companies are also asking customers to move vehicles away from trees, secure outdoor furniture, and keep flashlights ready in case the lights go out tonight.
Vowels urged customers to prepare for a longer-duration outage and to know where their supplies are before the storm arrives. If the wind drops trees across lines, the wait for power could stretch well beyond the initial outage, especially in areas crews cannot reach right away.
Customers are being told to report outages online or by phone. For many households, the next few hours will be less about the storm itself than about how quickly crews can safely get into the damaged areas once it passes.
