Portland: Massive Ice Storm Cripples Power Grid, Leaving City in Darkness

Portland: Massive Ice Storm Cripples Power Grid, Leaving City in DarknessPortland: Massive Ice Storm Cripples Power Grid, Leaving City in Darkness A treacherous ice storm has brought Portland to a standstill, crippling the power grid and plunging the city into darkness. The frigid temperatures and heavy ice accumulation have downed trees, snapped power lines, and caused widespread outages. As of Thursday afternoon, over 300,000 customers are without power, leaving homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure stranded. Roads are impassable due to fallen trees and downed wires, forcing residents to stay indoors. Portland General Electric (PGE), the city’s main power provider, has deployed crews to restore power as quickly as possible. However, the extent of the damage and the ongoing freezing rain make it difficult to assess the full scope of the situation. Mayor Ted Wheeler has declared a state of emergency and urged residents to stay home and conserve energy. Warming centers have been established across the city to provide shelter for those affected by the outages. “This is a major event for our city,” Wheeler said. “We’re working around the clock to restore power, but it will take time.” Schools and businesses have been closed, and public transportation has been suspended. Hospitals are operating on backup generators, but they are urging residents to avoid seeking non-essential medical care. The ice storm is also impacting telecommunications networks, making it difficult to communicate with those affected. Emergency responders are relying on satellite phones and mobile command centers to coordinate their operations. As the storm continues, residents are urged to take the following precautions: * Stay indoors and away from downed power lines. * Keep warm and conserve energy. * Use battery-operated flashlights and radios. * Avoid using generators indoors due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. * Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors who may need assistance. PGE estimates that power restoration could take several days or even weeks for some areas. The company is urging residents to be patient and to report any downed power lines or damage to their homes or businesses.