UPDATE: Thousands remain without power in the region as crews from Avista Utilities and Clearwater Power Company race to restore services following severe storms that hit on Thursday night. Wind gusts reaching 80 mph and heavy rain led to widespread outages, leaving more than 5,300 Clearwater Power customers and over 1,000 Avista customers in the dark as of Friday morning.
Emergency efforts are underway across the Quad Cities area, with crews working diligently to repair damage caused by fallen trees and downed power lines. In the Palouse, both the Troy School District and Whitepine School District have closed their doors again today due to ongoing power issues.
According to Avista’s outage map, Latah County has been significantly impacted, with the highest number of customers still experiencing outages. Avista spokesperson David Vowels stated that crews are making progress, with 86% of customers having their power restored by Thursday. Those still affected can expect an email today detailing the status of their outages.
Clearwater Power reported that their linemen and engineers are actively working to restore services north of Moscow and east toward Troy. Restoration estimates vary, with customers advised to check their respective outage maps for updates, which could extend from today through Sunday.
The extent of the damage prompted the Latah County Commissioners to declare a local disaster emergency on Wednesday, reflecting the severity of the situation.
As the storm’s impact continues to disrupt daily life, residents are urged to stay informed and prepare for the possibility of prolonged outages. The community is rallying together as power restoration efforts continue, highlighting the resilience and solidarity of those affected.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.
