Anchorage residents face ongoing power outages as repairs from a severe storm extend into a third day, affecting schools and services.
Anchorage: Hundreds of folks in Anchorage are still without power after a wild January storm hit. This storm brought record warmth and crazy winds over the weekend.
Chugach Electric Association mentioned that fixing the damage from Sunday’s storm is taking longer than expected. Some people might not see their power restored until Wednesday.
The storm, which rolled into Southcentral Alaska late Saturday, dumped heavy rain and had wind gusts over 100 mph in some areas. It uprooted trees and wrecked power lines all around the city.
Schools in Anchorage closed on Monday due to the outages and other weather issues but reopened on Tuesday. Meanwhile, schools in Mat-Su, Susitna Valley stayed closed for a second day because of icy conditions.
By Tuesday afternoon, over 1,100 customers were still without power, and there were more than 100 outages reported. People on the Hillside were using generators to keep warm as temperatures dropped into the 20s.
Chugach Electric said some members might not get their power back until Wednesday. Many residents, who have been without power for over 50 hours, are worried about how long this will take.
In a social media update, Chugach officials explained that the damage is extensive, making repairs more complicated and time-consuming. They assured everyone that crews are working around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
The city has also stepped up to help those affected. They opened a new emergency warming facility on Sunday, which quickly filled up. The Spenard Recreation Center was opened as a temporary spot for people without power to warm up and charge devices.
Both Spenard and Fairview recreation centers are open with waived fees for anyone needing warmth or power access. The Spenard center even has showers available for the public.
Municipal officials are still assessing the damage. A pedestrian bridge partially collapsed onto the Seward Highway, and there’s been minor to moderate damage reported across the city.
The Anchorage Fire Department responded to hundreds of calls during and after the storm. The city is also offering free disposal of woody debris at designated locations through the end of the month.
Residents can drop off materials like brush, branches, and cut trees without metal or concrete at the Anchorage Regional Landfill Wood Lot and Central Transfer Station.
People are encouraged to use the Hazard Tree App to report any downed trees on city property for removal.
