Nearly 8,000 people lost power in a blackout in Seattle

SEATTLE – There was a power outage in Seattle on Friday, affecting nearly 8,000 customers. The outage occurred primarily along Westlake Ave. west of Lake Union.

The cause of the disturbance was still under investigation as of 10 a.m., according to Seattle City Light. About an hour after the outage began, power was restored to most customers.

A look at power outages in Seattle as of 10:00 a.m. on November 1, 2024. (Seattle City Light)

In the event of unexpected power outages, residents can take various measures to stay safe and minimize disruption to their daily lives. Here are tips to keep in mind:

Safety first:

• Avoid downed power lines and treat them and anything they touch as live electricity. Report them to Seattle City Light immediately.
• Use flashlights instead of candles to reduce the risk of fire.

Food preservation:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. An unopened refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer can maintain its temperature for about 48 hours.
• Place a block of ice in the refrigerator to reinforce the cold if a prolonged power outage is expected.

Communication:

• Keep a portable, battery-powered radio handy to stay informed of the power restoration process.
• Use a car charger to charge mobile devices. Keep conversations short to save battery power.

Comfort:

• Wear multiple layers of clothing and use blankets to stay warm.
• Stay in the brightest part of the house during the day or use the time to go to a place where there is electricity.

Practical measures:

• Manually open electronic garage doors or gates.
• If it's safe, consider a trip to the store to pick up supplies. However, be careful as traffic lights may be out, resulting in dangerous road conditions.

For more information, contact Seattle City Light online or call customer service at 206-684-3000.

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