URGENT UPDATE: Thousands remain without power in the Quad Cities region following severe weather that struck Thursday night, bringing additional wind and precipitation. As of August 25, 2023, both Avista Utilities and Clearwater Power Company are racing to restore services, with many areas still in the dark.
In Latah County alone, over 1,000 Avista customers are without power, according to the latest outage map from the utility company. Avista spokesperson David Vowels confirmed that crews are making progress, having restored power to 86% of their customers by Thursday. Customers still affected will receive an email today with updates on their outage status.
Compounding the issue, the Troy School District and Whitepine School District have been forced to close again on Friday due to ongoing power outages. Clearwater Power Company has reported that 5,300 of its customers are still without electricity, with crews working diligently in areas north of Moscow and east toward Troy, as well as in Orofino and Craigmont.
The recent storm has wreaked havoc across the region, with winds reaching up to 80 mph causing trees to fall and damaging power lines. The Latah County Commissioners officially declared a local disaster emergency on Wednesday in response to the storm’s devastation.
Residents are urged to check the outage maps on the websites of both Avista and Clearwater Power for estimated restoration times, which range from Friday through Sunday. As crews continue their efforts, the impact on daily life is palpable, with many families left without power for extended periods.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation as authorities work to restore normalcy. Your safety and well-being are paramount during this challenging time.
