2021 February Winter Storm Spotlight

Multiple highways were affected due to blowing snow and blizzard conditions, ice, and debris blocking roadways across hardest hit areas.

Road closures from this event included:

• Interstate 84
• Interstate 205
• Highway 18
• Highway 22
• Highway 99E
• Highway 100
• Highway 213
• Highway 214
• Highway 224

Additionally, Interstate 5 was closed to make repairs to utility lines.

Impacts region-wide included down trees and power lines, localized road closures, and associated infrastructure damages. At the peak of power outage impacts, over 330,000 Oregonians were without power.

The event impacted all areas, particularly areas in North County, Kings Valley, North Albany and Alsea, due to ice and wind that caused downed power lines and trees blocking multiple county roads. Consumer Power Incorporated, a critical private nonprofit, was the largest hit private nonprofit (PNP) utility with over 9,000 customers without power for over 36 hours. In this county, there were over 39 miles of downed power lines and 19 poles destroyed, with 3,080 customers without power for up to 8 days during frigid temperatures. The PNP utility utilized ten mutual aid agreements to restore power as quickly as possible to the communities. The February Ice Storm event will put a strain on CPI for their 2021 operation and maintenance budget and the 2021 capital budget for assets replaced during the event.

Clackamas County had over 100,000 residences without power from two days to almost two weeks. The lack of power in subfreezing weather resulted in wellness checks for those populations adversely affected depending on the duration of the power outage and the degree that residents were stranded by downed trees and power lines. In addition to the hazardous conditions brought on by the ice storm, the roadways, countywide were impassable due to downed power lines and fallen trees. Local jurisdictions worked around the clock to clear safe passage for emergency vehicles and access for utilities to restore power. The amount of debris left behind as a result of the storm is staggering, amounting to the tens of thousands of cubic yards. 

In addition to extensive debris and massive power outages, the Lake Oswego-Tigard Water Partnerships Water Treatment Plant (WTP) lost both dual feeds of electrical power. The WTP provides water to over 100,000 people in Lake Oswego and Tigard. Without power for nearly two days, fire flow was getting low for Lake Oswego. Because there was no third power source alternative, a 400kw generator was brought in and the WTP’s electrical system rewired to accept an alternative power source. 

Consumers Power Incorporated (CPI) was the largest hit PNP utility with customers without power for up to seven days. In this county there are over 60 miles of damaged power lines, and 52 poles to be replaced with associated hardware. A total of 4,036 customers were without power for up to eight days during frigid temperatures. The PNP utility utilized ten mutual aid agreements to restore power as quickly as possible to the communities. CPI will be dealing with long-term tree issues due to the impacts of the ice storm. Damages include hazard trees and overall tree health that effect delivery of electricity and damage facilities. The severe winter storm, in combination with ice accumulation and freezing rain, resulted in many fallen trees causing road closures and damage to road infrastructure countywide. The county has continued efforts in the debris removal operations with seventy five percent of the county debris removal completed. The county has removed over 6,000 cubic yards of debris from rights-of-way.

Downed power lines, trees and branches due to the ice storm were blocking roads and preventing passage throughout the county. The debris impacted power lines, road access, and access to critical infrastructure such as communications and water waste systems. County public works has reported 70,000 cubic yards of debris to be removed, which will take months to complete. In addition, some trees that did not fall and sustained damage are at risk of falling and endangering lives if they are not cleared. The county had 10 crews clearing roads, working closely with power utilities to support power restoration.

The City of Scotts Mills was impacted significantly including lack of power for one week (February 12 through February 19), but the upper part of town was not restored for another five days after that (2/3 of population out for one week and 1/3 of population out for two weeks); residents lost perishables and had trouble heating homes. Roadways were blocked over the entire town. Generators were rented to keep the water system online for residents to continue to have access to water. The city park has been closed, as it is not safe for the public and debris remains.

The City of Salem removed debris from public property and rights-of-way to eliminate health and safety hazards, estimating over 78,000 cubic yard of debris removal. Due to the community wide debris, the city set up multiple public disposal sites from February 17 through March 15 to assist in the community wide recovery from the event. 

Consumers Power Incorporated had 394 customers in Marion County without power for up to eight days. Repairs were performed by three CPI crews, plus 10 mutual aid/contractor crews, as well as five tree crews during an 8-day period. CPI will be dealing with long-term tree issues due to the impacts of the ice storm.  

Due to downed trees, limbs, and power lines, the movement of many goods and services, particularly in the heavily forested areas, was negatively impacted. Residents of Polk County experienced a loss of electrical power, telecommunications, and Internet services when trees took down overhead utilities. Logging operations, garbage service, mail service and any other services which required access to, and use of, the county road system were negatively impacted. Many businesses were closed due to loss of power/telecommunications.

County staff members have identified over 1000 different sites of extensive debris removal locations and believe it will take six to nine months to complete debris removal operations.

Salem Electric Cooperative had nearly 17,000 residential and commercial customers across Salem and Keizer affected by power outages, with 9,000 out of power at the height of the event, and therefore many homes were without a heat source. Temperatures plunged as low as 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Businesses across Salem and Keizer were without power which affected operating hours and/or manufacturing capabilities. Residential customers working from home were unable to do so for up to one week after the storm began. A total of 218,000 hours of outage time was sustained by residential customers. Street, security, and traffic lighting across the service area was also without power for varying periods of time. Salem Electric will either borrow or increase rates in the short-term to finance the repairs required to return the distribution system to pre-storm levels. Both options result in higher electric rates for members.

Consumers Power Incorporated had over 41.5 miles of damaged power lines, and 32 poles to be replaced with associated hardware. Over 1,050 customers were without power for up to eight days during frigid temperatures. The PNP utility utilized ten mutual aid agreements to restore power as quickly as possible to the communities.

As a result of the severe winter storm, downed trees and limbs caused safety concerns countywide. In the City of McMinnville, due to fallen trees and hanging limbs over streets and sidewalks, it is estimated that there are over 400 sites of significant debris deposits.

The City of McMinnville Water and Light experienced heavy ice buildup on trees, which caused limbs and trunks to break and hit electrical distribution lines and poles. This caused damage throughout the electrical distribution system with an approximate coverage area of 75 square miles. Over 3000 customers were without power for up to 48 hours. Ice buildup and snow caused hazard trees for which a large number of broken branches and debris impeded emergency vehicles.

Due to loss of power the City of Amity water treatment plant experienced significant water level drops resulting in pulling water from the city’s reservoir, therefore requiring water restriction to the public due to not enough water for firefighters. In order to restore water service, the city rented generators, purchased fuel and other electrical components needed to install the generators, and contracted an electrician to wire generators into the existing water treatment system.

Local governments provided an impressive first response that included local public utility providers. Counties and cities implemented emergency plans and activated emergency operations centers. Emergency response actions were performed by medical, police, fire and public works agencies.

Utilities activated mutual aid agreements to get the power back on as quickly as possible, and utility crews worked around the clock to restore power.

State and local transportation agencies did everything within their capabilities to provide residents and travelers with safe passage along severely affected roads.

Local government agencies also worked with Oregon Department of Human Services to provide much needed non-congregate shelter to people displaced from their homes.

Emergency declarations were made for the counties of Benton, Clackamas, Hood River, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill due to the winter storms.  Governor Brown declared a state of emergency on 13 February 2021  due to the threat of life, safety, property and significant damage to infrastructure caused by these severe storms. It was activated in order to coordinate support and communication with local governments and responding state agencies.

Additionally, through revised statutes, the Governor declared an abnormal disruption of the market, activating the Department of Justice hotline to address any person(s) who believed they had been subject to unconscionably excessive prices for essential consumer goods and services.

The executive order was also extended on February 20th for Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, Polk and Yamhill counties due to the continued duration of power outages.

In areas without electricity, door-to-door welfare checks for residents identified as being high-risk including older adults, homebound people, and those who are medically fragile were conducted.

Oregon Dept. of Human Services staffed several shelters for medically fragile persons and the Oregon Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS) provided oxygen cylinders for local delivery to persons who were running out of this critical need.

The Oregon Department of Energy arranged for the delivery of diesel fuel to many locations within the affected counties, including the water treatment plant in Willamina to help with emergency power needs there, and to cities in Clackamas and Marion counties for emergency response purposes.

DAS provided Cell on Wheels (COWs) to assist with lost cell phone service.

The state provided GIS assistance to local governments to better determine and describe the geographic areas with outages.

State WiFi was provided at a COVID-19 vaccination center and vaccination warehouse that would have otherwise been unable to operate due to Internet outages.

Clackamas County established centers to distribute food and water to residents; the Oregon National Guard helped both with the delivery of needed goods, and with wellness checks.