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October Windstorm

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for locations in our service area from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning, with winds gusts to 55 mph. These damaging winds moved through the Puget Sound region on Saturday. The windy weather has caused many outages around our service area. There are approximately 135,000 customers without power. We’ve opened our Emergency Coordination Center and local storm bases to coordinate restoration efforts.

Damage is heaviest in Pierce and Thurston counties. The high winds and resulting tree damage not only downed the smaller, local power lines, but also damaged the larger transmission lines – the power lines that bring power into the communities. 

Once it’s safe, crews will begin assessing damage and begin to bring transmission lines back online; these lines need to be brought back into service before crews can focus on the local distribution system.

 
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Safety first. Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines because they might be energized. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911 to report problems.

Report and track power outages online

Earthquake safety

An earthquake can occur any time without warning. Here are some of the many ways you can minimize the risks to you, your family and home when an earthquake hits.

  • Prepare an emergency kit with at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food, water and other basic items.
  • Consider taking these steps to reduce earthquake hazards in your household.
  • Make sure your natural gas water heater is securely strapped to a wall stud.
  • Be familiar with the location and operation of the shut-off valve on your gas appliances. If your appliances do not have a shut-off valve, have one installed.
  • Know how to shut off your gas service in an emergency.
  • Use flexible pipe connections to connect all gas appliances to the house line that goes to your meter.
  • Stay away from downed power lines. Call us at 1-888-225-5773 if you see one.
  • If you smell natural gas, see a broken gas line or hear gas escaping, leave the area immediately and call 911. Then call PSE at 1-888-225-5773.

Do not turn off your gas service if you do not smell, see, hear or suspect that gas is escaping. Doing so will deprive you of energy you may need to cope with the emergency. In a post-disaster environment, there may be significant delay in PSE getting to your home to turn the gas back on.

If you do turn off your natural gas service, do not attempt to turn it back on yourself. Call us at 1-888-225-5773 to get it turned back on.

Customers who prefer that their gas shuts off automatically in an earthquake can purchase a seismic shut-off valve. These valves are positioned on the customer’s side of the gas meter to automatically stop the flow of gas into a structure. The valves are sensitive to shaking, and if not installed properly, may inadvertently shut off gas due to vibration sources other than a strong earthquake. Whenever gas is shut off, appliances and piping should be inspected before service is restored. PSE does not install these valves, nor do we provide maintenance service. We will, however, inspect appliances and piping and reset the valve after a shut-off.

 

Earthquake