UPDATE: Power restoration efforts are in full swing across Clark County as Clark Public Utilities crews work tirelessly to repair extensive damage caused by severe storms and downed trees. The outages, which began around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, left as many as 98,000 customers in the dark at the peak of the storm.
As of late Wednesday night, that number has been reduced to about 5,000, but officials warn that the battle is not over. “Things have been very busy,” said Dameon Pesanti, spokesperson for Clark Public Utilities. “We’re working to restore power, triage the damage, and build a plan.”
The storm wreaked havoc not just on residential areas but also impacted local businesses. In downtown Camas, the popular restaurant Grains of Wrath announced it would remain closed due to storm damage, leaving customers like Linda Mallon scrambling for new dining options. “Power is hit or miss throughout town. Some places are open, and right next door some are closed,” she noted.
“I hope the lights get turned back on and my freezer full of salmon doesn’t go bad,” said local resident Andrew Colver, expressing the frustration felt by many in the community.
Pesanti urged residents to report outages promptly to assist crews in identifying and addressing damage more efficiently. “To date, I have not experienced an atmospheric river this large or seen outages at this level all at once,” he added.
As restoration efforts continue, utility workers are also bracing for potential additional storms, with plans in place to ensure the community is prepared for future challenges. “As we dig ourselves out of this one, we’re actively planning how to prepare for the next,” Pesanti stated.
Colver expressed gratitude for the hard work of utility crews, saying, “I know they’re working very hard. Thank you very much for all that you’re doing.”
Residents are reminded to stay safe, especially near downed power lines, as authorities continue their urgent mission to restore electricity across the region. The situation remains developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
