Portand, Oregon, Electricity Debacle -- January 21, 2024

Locator: 46605PORTLAND.

Stories out of Portland, OR, being reported that some folks are still without electricity after eight days due to ice storm and trees falling on transmission lines. 

About a month ago we noted that the city was replacing a pole, reinforcing a pole, or removing a tree, or doing something two houses down from where Judah and Levi live. That probably was a life-saver for my daughter's family. They lost electricity for one day but are currently doing fine. Knock on wood.

I asked Laura if any trees fell on lines in her neighborhood. Her answer:

I didn't see any trees down in our neighborhood. The three attached photos are from a friend of ours -- a little more south east from us (maybe a 15min drive way). Luckily nothing his his house, but it landed in the driveway, cutting them off from going in or out. So much ice. I think he is spending today, now that we are beginning to thaw out, cutting that tree and moving it. 

There were several stories that people, who had trees fall on their house or their neighbor's houses, commented they filed for permits this past year to get tress removed in Portland city limits (we did not need a permit, as we are in Gresham), but either nothing came of the permits -- even after follow up phone calls.

Other people were denied because the trees were alive and/or more than 12 inches in diameter. Crazy. They try to prevent this and the city either dragged their feet or denied them. I think insurance companies should go after the city or the homeowners should. It's crazy.