Pud Gets Storm Funds

Four years after an ice storm shattered electricity distribution systems in northeastern Washington, Pend Oreille Public Utility District No. 1 has received $92,214 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help cover repair costs.

The PUD, which serves more than 7,000 customers, spent $708,135 to relocate 18 miles of line felled by the unprecedented storm.

Thousands of utility customers in Washington and Idaho were without power for days in November 1996 as crews sought to restore service.

Pend Oreille County was declared a disaster area in January 1997.

Repairs were difficult because lines were almost inaccessible, the president of the PUD’s board of commissioners said in a statement.

Daniel Peterson said those lines were relocated to road rights-of-way where they can be reached quickly.

Spring Valley in the southeast corner of the county and Bond/Danford north of Cusick are among the areas that will benefit, he said.

Tammy Doherty, FEMA acting regional director, said each $1 invested in disaster prevention trims $2.25 from future disaster costs.