SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Tree service companies and utility providers are preparing for a windstorm that weather experts say could be as severe as the 2021 windstorm that devastated the region.
Trail Head Tree Service has been incredibly busy the past couple of days evaluating homes ahead of the storm.
“We’re just making sure that we’re ready to go. Our equipment is ready to go,” said Ryan Schulte, owner of Trail Head Tree Service.
Avista Utilities is also preparing for potential widespread impacts.
“There could be outages in our service territory, but our crews are ready to respond at a moment’s notice,” said David Vowels with Avista Corporate Communications.
Wind storms are nothing new to the region, and the area’s lush evergreen trees are what the Inland Northwest is famous for. But during weather conditions like this, they can be incredibly hazardous.
“With the saturated soil and those rains that we’ve had over the last couple of weeks, it really makes the ground wet. And when you have those strong winds that come, it can uproot those trees,” Vowels said.
Uprooted trees can result in power outages and property damage. Vowels recommends being prepared with flashlights and batteries, taking down any holiday decoration at risk of flying away, and staying clear of any powerlines that are down or damaged.
Schulte says his company is expecting emergency calls as conditions worsen.
“We see the forecast and we see the winds. And you know, we’re expecting some calls,” he said. Schulte recommends hiring an arborist to evaluate your property ahead of these storms. “We know what to look for and how to mitigate those risks,” Schulte said.
If anyone sees a downed power line, it is critical to stay clear and call emergency services.
You can reach Avista at 1 (800) 227-9187. You can find their power outage map here.
You can reach Inland Power at 1 (877) 668-8243. You can find their power outage map here.
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