By FOX 12 Staff
Published: Jan. 13, 2024 at 6:03 AM PST|Updated: Jan. 13, 2024 at 8:48 PM PST
PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - A winter storm wreaked havoc in Oregon and southwestern Washington on Saturday. Knocking down trees and leaving tens of thousands of people in the dark as temperatures plunged below 20 degrees.
Latest weather updates here.
Saturday, January 13th
FOX 12 reached out to PGE for an update and received the following response from a company spokesperson around 9:30 p.m.
“Our crews are working through the night to assess the damage and restore power to customers as quickly and safely as possible given the extreme conditions we have seen. We have over 300 crews working 24-7 to restore power, including back-up crews from across the state with more arriving. Conditions continue to be harsh – with branches on lines and strong winds and ice throughout the region which can delay restoration efforts. Safety of our crews, customers and community is our top priority and we appreciate our customers patience and partnership as we work to restore power.”
“We know weather events and resulting outages are impactful to our customers. We currently have all available personnel working and responding to this weather event with additional crews on the way. PGE is aware of technical issues affecting our customer service phone systems. We are currently working to resolve this as soon as possible. Our website, mobile app and social channels are active and the best place to go for information regarding your outage. If there isn’t an estimated restoration time listed, prepare for an extended outage that may last into the weekend, due to the severity of the weather and the high number of individual outage events. We understand this is a hardship, and we want you to have this information so you can make plans. Please know our crews will continue to work as quickly as safety allows.”
As of 9:33 p.m. PGE’s outage map still showed 133,480 customers without power.
The company said they have restored 49,489 customers so far.
------
The City of Newport declared an emergency due to winter storm impacts on medical facilities, downed trees, power loss and public works being impacted by cold.
1 dead, 1 hurt after tree falls on RV, starts fire
One woman is dead and another person is hurt after a tree fell onto an RV, starting a fire in the 5300 block of Southeast 105th Avenue, according to Portland Fire & Rescue.
Neighbors say the power went out around 2 p.m. when they heard a tree crack, and then shouting outside.
“I hear somebody screaming ‘get out, get out’ and ‘we need help’,” said Juan Uribe. “My son called 911. Twenty minutes later, the fire department showed up.”
PF&R says when crews arrived, they found multiple power lines down and the RV engulfed in flames.
“I know three people live in that trailer,” said Uribe.
PF&R says two people were unhurt, one person was injured and taken to a hospital. After the flames were extinguished, crews found the body of a woman in her 30s who had been trapped when the tree fell and died inside the RV.
A fire investigator determined the fire spread from a stove being used to heat the RV when the tree crashed into the vehicle.
Neighbors say the power had been out for hours as fire crews left the scene. PGE crews stopped and surveyed the scene, and one neighbor says crews told him the power may not be restored this weekend.
8:00 p.m.
PGE is reporting 2,927 active outages, impacting 144,212 customers.
Pacific Power is reporting 319 outages in Oregon affecting 24,213 customers.
Clark County Public Utilities, customers impacted: 5,425.
7:00 p.m.
Mayor Wheeler has declared a local emergency due to the winter weather impacts on the Portland metro area. The emergency declaration is effective Jan. 12, 2024.
5:00 p.m.
Highway 26 is open both ways - some lanes are open, and traffic is moving slowly according to ODOT.
4:00 p.m.
Tense moments in Gresham as a more than 70 foot tree falls through an elderly couples, living room, trapping them in their chairs until they could be cut out by Gresham fire. Hear directly from them coming up, only on @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/CxNzY0BhVU
— Devin Eskew (@Devin_Eskew) January 13, 2024
3:00 p.m.
The City of Lake Oswego has declared a state of emergency.
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management has activated the State Emergency Coordination Center, and state agencies ask people to stay at home and off the roads as the storm brings ice, snow, freezing rain and wind to the state.
MAX: All MAX service is suspended until further notice due to impacts from the extreme weather.
2:00 p.m.
Highway 26 Westbound and Eastbound all lanes closed at Southwest Camelot Circuit near the Sylvan onramp due to downed powerlines, according to TripCheck.
Rider Alert: Route 57 is on a snow route. All stops on Allen St east of Minor Rd, on Corduroy Rd, Sunrise St, N 18th Ave, and Burcham St are closed. All Stops on Crawford are closed. Route 33 is on snow route. All stops on Pacific Way and Mt Solo Rd are closed. Rivercities LIFT will notify passengers of snow routes. Buses may be running late due to reduced travel speed.
Troutdale Road: S.E. Troutdale Road between S.E. Division Dr. and S.E. Strebin Rd. is closed due to downed trees and power lines blocking the road.
Brower Road: N.E. Brower Road is closed between these addresses: 1825 and 1843 due to downed trees and power lines blocking the road.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 136,919 people without power.
- Pacific Power: 17,843 people without power.
- Clark County PUD: 2,552 people without power.
1:30 p.m.
Lane Transit District: limited bus service will begin Sunday at 11 a.m.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 119,039 people without power.
- Pacific Power: 17,843 people without power.
- Clark County PUD: 1,628 people without power.
1:00 p.m.
Ride Connection: The North Hillsboro Link will not be in service, and door-to-door services will be limited.
Check TripCheck.com for updates.
Delays and intermittent closures on Interstate 5 over the Siskiyou Pass, northbound and southbound.
High Cascade passes: Highways near Diamond Lake and Crater Lake are closed due to extreme winter weather conditions. Postpone travel on mountain passes until conditions improve.
U.S. 101 reopened on the Astoria-Megler Bridge and Youngs Bay Bridge in Astoria after closures midday Saturday due to freezing rain. Severe weather may force highway closures throughout northwest Oregon this weekend, including the Coast, Portland, and the Willamette Valley, as well as higher elevations. Reschedule travel if possible.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 106,402 people without power.
- Pacific Power: 16,836 people without power.
- Clark County PUD: 1,506 people without power.
12:30 p.m.
River Cities Transit: Route 57 is on a snow route. All stops on Allen St east of Minor Rd, on Corduroy Rd, Sunrise St, N 18th Ave, and Burcham St are closed. All Stops on Crawford are closed. Route 33 is on snow route. All stops on Mt Solo Rd are closed. Go to River Cities Transit for more information.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 105,798 people without power.
- Pacific Power: 6,860 people without power.
- Clark County PUD: 1,421 people without power.
12:00 p.m.
Portland Community College: Physical campuses/centers are closed Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 13-14). All in-person classes, events, and activities are canceled.
The University of Portland is closed.
C-TRAN: Routes 2, 6, 9, 19, 30, 31, 32, 74 and 92 are on snow route.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 95,632 people without power.
- Pacific Power: 9,960 people without power.
- Clark County PUD: 458 people without power.
11:30 a.m.
Tri-Met: Several bus lines have been detoured due to downed branches, trees, power lines or slick conditions. Line 32-Oatfield service is suspended. All Max lines are currently experiencing delays and disruptions. Visit trimet.org/home/alerts/ for more information.
Edwards Center is closed
Splash! is closed.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 81,302 people without power.
- Pacific Power: 7,148 people without power.
- Clark County PUD: 264 people without power.
10:30 a.m.
Northwest Medical Homes has closed all offices.
The City of Vancouver has closed. Firstenburg and Marshall Community Centers are closed Saturday and Sunday. All recreation events are canceled.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 38,430
- Pacific Power: 1922
- Clark Count PUD: 53
10:00 a.m.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 31,881 people without power.
- Pacific Power: 1726 people without power.
- Clark County PUD: 32 people without power.
The Grotto is closed.
9:30 a.m.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 25, 838
- Pacific Power: 785
- Clark County PUD: 32, 910 recently restored
Northwest Medical Homes will be opening at 11 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
Active road closures:
- Southeast 13th Avenue between Southeast Yamhill and Southeast Belmont due to a downed tree
- Southeast Belmont Street between Southeast 12th and Southeast 13th due to a downed tree.
- Northeast Holman Street, west of Northeast 112th due to a downed tree.
- Northeast Cesar East Chavez Boulevard, between Hazelfern Place and Laurelhurst Place due to a downed tree.
- Northwest Skyline Boulevard from Northwest Lighting Ridge Drive to Wind Ridge Drive due to a downed tree and wires.
- Northeast Flanders Street from Laurelhurst Place to Laddington Circle due to downed tree and wires.
The City of Hillsboro announced the Hillsboro Public Library facilities, Brookwood and Shute Park libraries, are closed.
Hillsboro Parks & Rec facilities SHARC, Hidden Creek Community Center and Outdoors In are closed for Saturday.
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is closed but outdoor areas remain available for community use.
Hidden Creek Park West’s playground is closed.
Hondo Dog Park’s winter area will remain open.
Oaks Park Association is closed.
8:45 a.m.
The Portland Clinic announced it will be closed today.
8:30 a.m.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric: 15,214
- Pacific Power: 624
- Clark County PUD: 349 without power, 762 restored.
8:20 a.m.
Portland Art Museum announced it will be closed Saturday.
7:50 a.m.
ODOT says northbound I-5 has reopened at milepost 209 after an early morning crash.
The department says it’s seeing multiple crashes on I-5 between Albany and Eugene due to freezing rain and ice on the roads. Drivers are being asked to cancel or delay their trips for now, if possible.
7:40 a.m.
Updated power outage list:
- Portland General Electric - 8,328 customers without power
- Pacific Power - 4,519 customers affected
- Clark County PUD - 254 customers affected
6:50 a.m.
The Oregon Zoo announced it will be closed Saturday.
6:30 a.m.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation has reported multiple road closures due to fallen trees:
- Southeast Belmont Street closed between Southeast 12th and Southeast 13th.
- Southeast 13th Avenue closed between Southeast Yamhill and Southeast Belmont.
- Northeast Holman Street closed west of Northeast 112th.
6:10 a.m.
Portland Fire & Rescue says a tree has fallen on a tent in the area of Southeast 94th and Southeast Gladstone. Three people were trapped by the tree.
Crews are on the scene of a tree that has fallen on a tent in the area of 94th and SE Gladstone St. Initial reports are that some limbs have fallen and trapped 3 people inside the tent, crews are working to get them out now.
— Portland Fire & Rescue (@PDXFire) January 13, 2024
PF&R says only one person had minor injuries.
5:45 a.m.
Portland General Electric was reporting more than 1,500 customers were without power, while Pacific Power had 1,634 customers without power. In Clark County, about 108 PUD customers were without power Saturday morning.
Portland Fire & Rescue and Gresham Fire responded to a house fire at 3600 block of Southeast 167th Avenue. PF&R reported a tree fell on some electrical lines going into the home and started a small fire.
Crews from PF&R and Gresham Fire are on the scene of a residential fire at the 3600 block of SE 167th Ave. A fallen tree has added complications as it has fallen on the electrical lines going into the home.
— Portland Fire & Rescue (@PDXFire) January 13, 2024
The fire was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported.
Oregon Department of Transportation says northbound Interstate 5 will be closed at milepost 20, about 12 miles north of Eugene, due to crash. Slippery road conditions have been reported in the area.
Copyright 2024 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.
