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Power companies in Puget Sound preparing for severe weather this week

Before the next storm brings high winds and heavy rain, make sure your phone is charged and you have extra blankets and nonperishable food ready.

SEATTLE — Thousands in western Washington experienced the aftermath of heavy rain and strong wind Monday morning and officials with Seattle City Light warn that could be just the beginning of what’s to come.

"There is more weather expected, and we are preparing for that,” said Jenn Strang, Seattle City Light media relations manager.

A Wind Advisory goes into effect Tuesday for most of Puget Sound, the southwest interior, western Whatcom and Skagit counties and the San Juan Islands.

Crews with Seattle City Light are working to bring customers' power back and bracing for more severe weather.

"We make sure we have adequate staffing numbers, that all of our trucks are equipped adequately, that everything is in good working order and that we have enough material stocked," Strang said.

Strang warns that power outages could still happen, and people need to do what they can now to prepare, including making sure their phones are charged, their flashlights have fresh batteries and extra blankets and nonperishable food are at the ready.

Some communities that were without power Monday, had trees fall on power lines during the morning's windy conditions.

Roughly 100 people in Brier were among those who dealt with an outage, and in an environment covered in darkness, area residents showed that it helps to have a neighbor-- especially one with a few bright ideas.

Dale McCurdy offered an extra generator to some of his neighbors. 

"And it’s just been perfect timing," McCurdy said. "When I woke up, I went to turn the light switch on, and there was no power. So I was like ‘Oh! I guess the power’s out. That was all the rain and wind last night... it’s been, uh, weird weather. Couple weeks worth of weather.”

And he was right: Monday morning winds were the cause of his outage when a tree to fell on a power line, according to Snohomish county officials.

"It’s like we can’t catch a break," said Kris Hacut, another neighbor of McCurdy's. "We’ve been checking-- constantly-- the PUD website... We’re kind of just still holding out, waiting for the electricity to come back. It’s just kind of crazy cause we just dealt with the freezing rain last Friday, and now we’re dealing with power outages and high wind speeds.”

And no rest for the weary; when the wind advisory goes into effect Tuesday, wet soil could mean more trees could topple and create more power issues. And take it from them, it’s best to plan ahead.

"Keep your phones charged," Hacut said. "Communicate with other family. If you have any other family that lives in a different area, maybe see if you can stay with them.”

As for McCurdy, he suggests getting a generator, while keeping in mind: "don’t run your generator indoors.”

Jonathon Barnett's car was crushed by a tree just outside his West Seattle home.

"It's a great truck and it looks like it can take a direct hit from a tree and I probably would've survived,” Barnett said.

The day after Christmas, Barnett is trying to keep that Christmas spirit alive, despite waking up to a mess. 

"Merry Christmas – that's kind of all I can feel," Barnett said. "Like wow, count your blessings nobody was hurt."

And he wasn't the only one who woke up to something unexpected Monday morning. Amy and Jamie Hannity who live in Mountlake Terrace said they woke up to a transformer blowing up right outside their window. 

"We saw a couple big flashes in the sky and then saw a huge flash at the end of the road," Jamie Hannity said. "And then she (Amy) catches a little video of a big zap, flash. Like we saw burning sparks falling and everything and that was it and it's been dark ever since."

    

Power Outages

Seattle City Light outage map

Puget Sound Energy outage map

Snohomish PUD outage map

Tacoma Public Utilities outage map

Download the KING 5 app to check the interactive radar near you, as well as the latest forecast, cameras and current conditions.

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