Electric customers in Wrangell and Petersburg experienced power outages Tuesday as bad weather hit this part of the panhandle.
The lights went out community-wide in Petersburg a little after 12:30 p.m. and service was restored on standby diesel generators by 1:30 to 2 p.m.
KSTK in Wrangell reported trees knocked over in multiple locations and power out in that community as well. A caller from Whale Pass on Prince of Wales Island also told KFSK electricity was out there too.
Petersburg’s utility director Karl Hagerman reports a sudden and strong windstorm hit Wrangell taking down power lines and snapping power poles on Wrangell Island. The bulk of Petersburg’s power comes from the Tyee Lake hydro plant south of Wrangell owned by the Southeast Alaska Power Agency, or SEAPA.
Petersburg was back on SEAPA power later Tuesday afternoon. In an update, Hagerman writes that the damage in Wrangell did not affect SEAPA’s ability to get power to Petersburg and repairs are expected to the electrical grid in Wrangell Tuesday night and Wednesday.
This part of Southeast saw heavy rain and strong winds Tuesday.
(This story has been updated.)
