Published November 20 2024

City response status updates to be posted here

A bomb cyclone windstorm lashed Bellevue Tuesday night, bringing down trees throughout the city and leaving hundreds of thousands without power Wednesday across the region. In Bellevue, a Bridle Trails woman died when a tree struck her house.

Puget Sound Energy announced Wednesday morning that it will take days before power is restored for many customers. The windstorm, part of a rotating rapidly intensifying system of storms known as a bomb cyclone, generated winds of up to 50 mph here. People are advised to report outages at PSE.com/en/outage. Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 to report downed lines or trees in power lines.

Most city facilities, including City Hall, had power Wednesday. However, South Bellevue Community Center, the golf course, Lewis Creek Visitor Center, Mercer Slough Environmental Center and the tennis center were closed Wednesday. Bellevue District Court was also closed. Crossroads Mall has power (including Mini City Hall). A Wednesday evening Great Neighborhoods information event in Newport was canceled.

Bellevue's Fire, Police, Transportation and Utilities crews responded to hundreds of calls for service through Tuesday night, clearing streets of downed trees where possible. Some streets throughout the city were still closed Wednesday, with city crews working around the clock to clear them. If trees are on power lines, PSE must respond first to clear the lines before vegetation can be removed by city crews.

Nearly a dozen Bellevue streets were still closed Wednesday afternoon. The Transportation Department is maintaining a list at BellevueWA.gov/traffic-advisories. To report downed trees (not involving power lines) or other hazards in the right of way, call 425-452-7840 or email O&[email protected].

The city lost communication to 114 traffic signals. While generators have been deployed to power some of those, many signals are still dark. Drivers are advised to treat those intersections as four-way stops.

Trees on private property that appear to pose an immediate safety risk may be permitted for immediate removal. People must send photos of each tree, with a close-up of the base, to [email protected] for response and confirmation. The property address and location of the tree(s) on the property must be included.

Trees may have caused damage to personal property such as homes, decks or other structures. For help determining permitting required to make repairs to damaged structures, please reach out to [email protected].

As power outages continue, community members are encouraged to check on their neighbors especially as temperatures drop, clear storm drains of debris ahead of expected rains and refer to the safety tips below. Tips in 繁體中文, Русский, español, tiếng Việt and 日本語 are available at Windstorms.

Safety Tips

• Do not use gasoline-powered machinery, such as generators, indoors or in a garage; toxic fumes can build up and are dangerous! Only operate generators outdoors. Plug appliances directly into the generator using heavy duty, properly grounded extension cords that aren't worn or frayed.
• Do not use charcoal grills indoors. Dangerous carbon monoxide can result.
• Do not use a gas range or oven for room heating. A fuel-burning heater, such as a kerosene heater, requires plenty of ventilation to prevent buildup of harmful fumes. Place heaters on a hard surface away from flammable materials. Never leave children or pets alone when using a portable heater.
• Turn off lights and appliances, including your furnace, and unplug sensitive electronic devices, like computers to avoid a circuit overload when power is restored. Leave one light switch on so you'll know when service returns.
• Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed; open them only when necessary.
• Food will usually stay frozen for 36-48 hours in a fully loaded freezer if you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours.