Oregon Getting Back To Normal After Storm

Wed., Jan. 14, 1998

Associated Press

The first winter storm of the year blew heavy snow into Portland through the Columbia Gorge, then freezing rain, before a quick thaw revealed little damage Tuesday except for bent fenders and a few bruises.

Interstate 84 was reopened, schools were ready to resume classes, commuter traffic was plowing through piles of slush, and flights resumed at Portland International Airport, allowing travelers to finally depart after sleeping in the terminal while waiting out delays and cancellations since Sunday.

Crews for Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, the two largest utilities in Oregon, were busy restoring electricity to customers after the snow and ice had cut power to tens of thousands of homes since the storm began early Sunday.

“After this storm, the next one should be a piece of cake,” said Jim McClain, district operations manager for Pacific Power. “This one was ugly.”

About 400 homes and businesses in Astoria remained without power Tuesday, Pacific Power spokesman Bob French said. At the height of the storm on Sunday, 2,500 Pacific Power customers in Portland were affected.

PGE reported 20,000 customers without power Tuesday in the Columbia River Gorge up to Mount Hood and in scattered spots in Portland, spokeswoman Vickie Rocker said.

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