Storms Leave West and South Powerless

ByABC News
December 15, 2000, 3:15 PM

S E A T T L E, Dec. 15 -- Winds gusting up to 90 mph left at least 100,000homes and businesses without electricity today in westernWashington as snow snarled traffic in other parts of the state.

A lingering ice storm, meanwhile, kept as many as 150,000customers in Arkansas and Texas struggling without power.

And Wyoming braced for yet another snow lashing and strongwinds, predicted to push the wind chill reading to 60 below zero.Mountain passes throughout the state were closed as road crews setoff explosives to trigger avalanches.

On Washingtons principal east-west artery, Interstate 90, onedeath was reported on snowy roads, and eastbound lanes were closedfor about four hours by fallen trees. After it reopened, it wasclosed by traffic accidents as snow squalls built drifts andreduced visibility.

Portland General Electric and Pacificorp said the high winds andfalling trees temporarily cut service to about 45,000 customers inOregon.

Rapid Cold FrontThe National Weather Service blamed the blustery weather on arapidly moving cold front that blew out a brief warm spell.

To the south and east, the storm that slathered a coating of iceon trees, streets and power lines in Arkansas kept more than 80,000homes and businesses without power today, and more freezing rainwas predicted for later in the day. More than 100 schools wereclosed throughout the state.

A similar number of households in Texas remained powerless, buttemperatures were rising and the situation was returning to normalmore quickly. Some residents in East Texas, however, were told theywould be in the dark through the weekend.

In Louisiana, 43,000 customers were still without power onFriday, and many were frustrated without such conveniences asdishwashers and televisions.

Were going stir crazy inside here, 76-year-old Shreveportresident Walter Bruce said.

It is like living back in the 1800s, said his son KenneyBruce.

Waiting for ReliefTwo people in Arkansas died Thursday in traffic accidents causedby slick roads, and several communities called for ArkansasNational Guard generators to keep water systems running.