Strong winds take down power lines on Camano Island



CAMANO ISLAND, Wash. – As the storm rolls in, winds on Camano Island have already taken down a few power lines.

Rough winds are hammering many spots in the North Sound, with gusts nearing 50 mph on Whidbey and Camano islands.

“As soon as the wind hit,s it just feels like a truck hits the house,” Lake Stevens firefighter Pat Cook explained from his porch. “Last windstorm, we were out for about 36 hours.”

Utility crews say this windstorm could put thousands in the dark, again.

Snohomish PUD crews tackled downed lines on W. North Camano Drive where wires tangled with huge pine trees.

PUD and  Puget Sound Energy say brittle branches and the rain-soaked ground around tree roots will be the main culprits in power outages during this storm.

The state our trees are in can’t handle the expected wind speeds. So utility companies urge customers to take precautions now.

“I got blankets, I've got food in my fridge I've got supplies for three days, I can survive with that,” Mostafa Rathuy said about his preparations in Mukilteo.

The routine feels like deja vu for those who know what’s headed their way.

“When the wind comes through here, through Whidbey and Mukilteo, it's a straight shot with a lot of force,” Cook added.

Winds delayed and even canceled Port Townesend and Coupeville ferries for a while late Monday afternoon. Potentially longer delays could follow with stronger wind gusts.