More than 1,000 Puget Sound Energy customers were still without power as of 2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, after an unusually cold blast of arctic air overran Whatcom County Thursday.
Crews continued working Friday afternoon to restore power to 218 customers after a 75-foot transmission and distribution pole fell over Mount Baker Highway in Kendall late Thursday night.
Repairs were slowed by frigid temperatures, said Andrew Padula of Puget Sound Energy. Crews were being replaced frequently to keep workers safe.
PSE’s outage map indicates that repairs in Kendall should be completed by 4 p.m. Friday.
Mount Baker School District announced a two-hour delay for the start of school Friday, due to power outages.
Bellingham’s temperature dropped to 3 degrees early Friday morning, with sustained winds of 30 mph blowing overnight. Wind gusts peaked at 62 mph at Bellingham International Airport.
The highest temperature reached at the Bellingham airport by early Friday afternoon was 10 degrees.
Below-freezing temperatures will persist in Whatcom County until Monday, Jan. 15, according to an online National Weather Service forecast. Saturday’s high temperature is expected to rise to 27 with a low of 15 degrees.
Wind and wind chill advisories remain in effect for western Whatcom County through 7 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13.
The City of Bellingham opened a daytime warming shelter at 10 a.m. Friday at the former Lighthouse Mission Ministries Drop-in Center, 1013 W. Holly St. The location also will be open during the day Saturday and Sunday. Transportation will be provided to the daytime shelter from the overnight winter shelter at Civic Field.
A full list of homeless and emergency shelters is provided on the Whatcom County website.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Bellingham Police Department had no immediate reports as of Friday morning of deaths or hospitalizations due to the severe weather.
Bellingham police received 184 calls for service between 5 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, police Public Information Officer Megan Peters said. These included nine vehicle collisions, 16 traffic hazards and 18 alarms — numbers much higher than the same period a week ago, Peters said.
Officers responded during those hours to nine “citizen assist” calls, to help people suspected of being in danger due to exposure to the cold. The police also provided three weather-related responses to individuals through its Alternative Response Team.
All animals at the Whatcom Humane Society were getting the extra care needed to stay safe, Executive Director Laura Clark said Friday afternoon.
The domestic animal shelter on Division Street lost power overnight, but it was restored a few hours later, Clark said. The extreme cold was limiting animals’ access to water at the Humane Society’s farm in Everson, but emergency water was available.
“The animals are all inside the barn … and doing well,” Clark said.
The Humane Society can provide emergency care and housing for pets whose owners are experiencing homelessness or otherwise can’t adequately shelter their pets, Clark added.
How to help
Donations of blankets, hand warmers and warm clothing, including hats, gloves and socks, are being accepted at local businesses and nonprofits to help those in need during the extreme weather. Here is a list of spots accepting donations:
Ragfinery: 1421 N Forest St. in Bellingham
Sunnyland Free Pantry: Drop off items at the pantry between King and James Streets (behind Coconut Kenny’s and Greene’s Corner).
Hope House: 207 Kentucky St. in Bellingham
Northwest Youth Services of Whatcom County: 1020 N State St. in Bellingham
