Avista Utilities Readies for Major Windstorm as Residents Prepare for Outages Spokane, Wash. — Avista Utilities is mobilizing its full staff and contracted crews in anticipation of a significant windstorm set to impact the Inland Northwest. The utility company is following up on the aftermath of December’s storm, which left 80,000 homes without power. David Vowel, Avista’s senior communication manager, emphasized the company’s focus on preparedness, stating, “The weather is going to come through our entire service territory. So we’re trying to focus on everybody holistically at this time until we see the impacts. But crews in our outlying areas, they’re ready.” Avista has deployed crews across Eastern Washington and North Idaho and is coordinating with contract teams to ensure a rapid response. The utility is closely monitoring National Weather Service forecasts and has fully fueled its fleet of vehicles to support operations. Community members are also taking proactive steps, with local retailers reporting a surge in sales of emergency supplies. Miles Barany, co-owner of The General Store, noted, “People are coming in to get chainsaws to clear out debris that goes in there… lots of generators, lots of propane and lots of fuel. Just making sure that they’re staying warm.” The primary concern for Avista is the potential for vegetation to interfere with power lines during the storm. While the company’s infrastructure is designed to withstand winds up to 100 miles per hour, trees are not equipped to handle such conditions and are expected to come into contact with power lines. When outages occur, residents are advised to check Avista’s website for real-time outage maps and estimated restoration times.#national_weather_service #avista_utilities #spokane #miles_barany #inland_northwest
