UPDATE: Thousands of residents in the Quad Cities are still facing power outages as crews from Avista Utilities and Clearwater Power Company work tirelessly to restore service following severe weather. As of this morning, over 5,300 customers remain without power, with the situation developing rapidly.
Late Thursday night, strong winds reaching up to 80 mph combined with heavy precipitation caused widespread damage, leaving many homes in the dark. The Troy School District and Whitepine School District announced closures today due to ongoing outages affecting their facilities.
According to the latest data from Avista, more than 1,000 customers in Latah County are still without power, with efforts underway to restore service. Avista spokesperson David Vowels confirmed that crews made significant progress, with 86% of affected customers having their power restored yesterday.
Vowels stated, “Customers still experiencing outages will receive an email today regarding the status of their service.” Meanwhile, Clearwater Power crews are actively restoring service to areas north of Moscow and east toward Troy. Restoration efforts are also concentrated in Orofino and Craigmont.
Both Avista and Clearwater are directing customers to their outage maps for real-time updates and estimated restoration times, which currently range from today through the weekend. The Latah County Commissioners officially declared a local disaster emergency on Wednesday in response to the storm’s impact.
Residents are urged to stay tuned for further updates as emergency crews continue to assess damage and expedite restoration efforts. The impact of these outages is significant, affecting daily life and community services, making it a critical situation for thousands in the region.
For ongoing updates, keep checking the official websites of Avista Utilities and Clearwater Power. Stay safe and informed as crews work to return power to your homes.
