Whidbey Takes Another Punch, Windstorm Knocks Out Power To Island

Published 3:00 pm Monday, December 18, 2006

The massive windstorm that ripped across Western Washington Thursday was a big one — even for Whidbey Islanders who have had plenty of experience with power outages and storm in recent weeks.

The storm knocked out power across Whidbey and for more than 1 million people across the state.

Downed trees prevented people from driving to work. Others felt they had no choice but to make their way to work.

Leslie McGinnis, an employee of Island Home Nursing, stopped at Pay-Less in Freeland for coffee and supplies.

“My clients are depending on me,” McGinnis said.

On Fidalgo Drive in Clinton, Debbie Taylor examined a tree that nearly prevented cars from passing.

“We’re having a Christmas party in our office today,” she said. “Otherwise I’d just stay home.”

Insurance adjusters will have their work cut out for them as fallen trees caused property damage across the South End. The extent of the damage was unknown when The Record went to press Friday afternoon.

Harold Swap got the surprise of his life when a tall cedar tree snapped and crushed his carport and the van inside.

“It sounded like a bomb exploding,” he said.

Swap’s home on Fir Street near Beverly Beach is surrounded by cedar trees.

“I was nervous all night after the tree fell,” he said.

The camper van was a total loss and belonged to his son Mike Swap, who moved it to his father’s home to get it out of the weather.

“I brought it over here because I don’t have covered storage at my home on Wahl Road. I thought it would be safe here,” Mike Swap said.

A downed tree landed in power lines on Bayview Road and Lucy Lane. A repair truck from POTELCO in Oak Harbor was getting ready to go to work.

“First, we test and ground the wires to make sure everything is safe,” crew leader Dan Forkan said. “Then we’ll cut the tree down and splice the wires back together and repair any broken pieces on the pole.”

Most South Enders knew the storm was coming before it descended upon Whidbey Island shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday.

Power began going out early Thursday evening as winds followed an afternoon rainstorm.

By 9 p.m. most households between Oak Harbor and Clinton were without power.

Puget Sound Energy spokeswoman Dorothy Bracken said 700,000 customers were without power. A total of 1.1 million households were reportedly without power Friday.

Wind gusts exceeding 75 miles per hour were reported in parts of south Puget Sound, according to media reports. Many said Whidbey Island was one of the worst-hit areas in Western Washington.

Wind gusts of 60 to 90 miles per hour were felt in different regions of Washington.

Before the windstorm hit, Island County emergency personnel began preparing for the worst.

Island County Emergency Services set up an emergency shelter at Trinity Lutheran Church Friday afternoon.

Fire District 3 set up an area command headquarters at the Freeland fire station. A half-dozen volunteers answered calls throughout the night.

“It was so dangerous out there Thursday night, we only responded to medical and fire calls,” Assistant Fire Chief Paul Busch said.

“A call came in for a boat house sinking at Sandy Hook, but there was nothing we could do,” Busch said.

Busch said Island County Public Works crews were busy keeping the roads cleared so firefighters and other emergency responders could get through.

Some calls were false alarms.

A call for crane falling at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders turned out to unfounded.

However, the canvas sheeting that covers the tall portable buildings at the boatyard was ripped to shreds.

Nichols was closed on Friday due to the power outage.

Matt Nichols, CEO, surveyed the damage to the canvas Friday.

“We were going to replace it anyway,” he said.

When islanders found themselves without power for the third time in less than two months, they already knew the drill — get gas for generators, keep warm and find alternatives to pass time.

At Naomi’s Exxon at Ken’s Corner, a generator allowed the service station to remain open and the action was non-stop as cars lined for gasoline to power cars and home generators.

“We’ve been busy but everything’s going pretty smooth,” said assistant manager Nancy Miller. “We’re going to make some hot soup later today.”

Having had plenty of practice with power outages in recent weeks, many were ready to face the storm.

Mary French at the Fishmonger in Bayview Cash Store made extra ice and covered her products the night before.

“I know the drill,” she said.Many grocery stores and restaurants had losses in the thousands due to power losses during the snow storm at the end of November.