PSE crews assist with Port Orchard tornado damage
The trees were damaged after the Dec. 18 tornado that touched down in Port Orchard, leaving a path of destruction.
BELLEVUE, Wash. (1/25/2019) To kick off the new year, Puget Sound Energy is awarding three organizations the gift of green energy.
Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management had trouble locating an arborist in their county immediately to assess the trees, so they contacted us to help evaluate and then remove the most critical trees. PSE crews, with the help of our tree removal partners, Asplundh, quickly mobilized and responded to the area and identified 19 trees with root, branch or limb impacts from the tornado. Four large trees were in immediate danger of falling onto homes in that area.
“In the midst of our recent tornado disaster we reached out for assistance to address four large damaged trees threatening adjacent homes,” said Elizabeth Klute, Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management director. “Puget Sound Energy immediately responded with mutual aid to assess the risk and facilitate removal of these dangerous trees prior to a severe wind storm. It’s the relationships we build prior to an emergency that can bring a ray of sunshine on an otherwise cloudy day!”
One of the larger trees was leaning to one side with a high chance of falling over. Our crews removed that tree and three others that were in the danger of falling. The property owners were then responsible for taking care of the remaining dozen or so trees to prevent them from falling onto homes during future storms.
The Puget Sound Energy Foundation partnered with the Kitsap Community Foundation to donate $2,500 each to support Port Orchard residents. The financial contribution will help homeowners with damage caused by the rare tornado that homeowners’ insurance won’t cover.
Media Contact:
Andrew Padula, 888-831-7250, psenewsroom@pse.com