A severe thunderstorm rolled through local counties Tuesday night, April 28, 2020, leaving thousands without electricity. The National Weather Service reported 71 mph winds.
What Brought This On?
The day began warm. Some areas even reached 80 degrees. By evening weather experts announced storm watches. Approaching storms were told of dropping tennis ball size hail. Residents started to prepare for the worst. Flashlights are a must this time of year.
By dinner time, wind speeds picked up. It rushed through open windows, pushing out stale air. Although citizens fell to sleep with air flowing around them, the big storm hit. With heavy rains, strong winds, and lightning, local residents closed their windows. Then the electricity went out.
Did Everyone Lose Power?
Howell Oregon Electric reported about 1,200 residents lost power that night. Seven poles broke with the storm. By 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, all but 159 residents had power restored.
Storm Season
Oregon County is entering the spring, summer storm season. We expect lightning, flooding, high winds, and tornadoes. By expecting it, we can prepare for it. Working flashlights, even available candles set out for emergencies can make a stressful situation more relaxed. If you have a storm cellar, make sure it is ready for the season. It’s good to know where all family members are before a crisis happens, especially when a storm is approaching. Another good suggestion is watching the weather. Not all the time, but be aware of what is happening outside in the sky.
Working together and using common sense, we can make it through another storm season.
