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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Windstorm 2015 by the numbers

From the loss of power and trees downed to cancelled days of school and filled hotels downtown, here is a by-the-numbers look at the windstorm that hit Spokane nearly two weeks ago and how it impacted our community.

Shelly Aase embraces her dog Mattie Jo as they venture out from their home to view the wind damage on Upton near Milton in north Spokane, Nov. 20, 2015. Aase says the dog has been wrapped inside her coat for reassurance. Aasue has on a head lamp for light in her darkened house. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Shelly Aase embraces her dog Mattie Jo as they venture out from their home to view the wind damage on Upton near Milton in north Spokane, Nov. 20, 2015. Aase says the dog has been wrapped inside her coat for reassurance. Aasue has on a head lamp for light in her darkened house. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

POWER

180,000: Avista Utilities customers without power at peak after the windstorm.

369,000: Total number of Avista electric customers in North Idaho and Eastern Washington.

100,000: Peak Avista outage during ice storm in 1996.

40,000: Peak Avista outage after July 23, 2014 storm.

48,000: Peak Avista outage after Aug. 2, 2014 storm.

99203: South Hill ZIP Code in an area described as ground zero by Avista CEO Scott Morris.

83: Percentage of 99203 ZIP Code still without power five days after storm.

500: Linemen from contractors or outside power agencies assisting Avista’s effort to restore power.

873: Miles traveled by San Francisco-based PG&E utility crew that came to help restore power (if the crew used route including Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway 97).

73: Calls about natural gas concerns that Avista responded to in a 12-hour period during and after the windstorm.

26: Severed gas lines Avista found during that 12-hour shift.

0: Number of gas ignitions cause by windstorm.

23: Severed gas lines Avista responded to in all of November 2014.

(800) 227-9187: Number to call immediately if you smell gas.

In the alley between West Jackson and York Avenues, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 an Avista Utilities crew reconnects a feeder trunk line to a new power pole that had been knocked down by a large tree in Tuesday's windstorm. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
In the alley between West Jackson and York Avenues, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 an Avista Utilities crew reconnects a feeder trunk line to a new power pole that had been knocked down by a large tree in Tuesday’s windstorm. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

32,694: Members (customers) of Inland Power and Light without power at peak (5 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18).

40,270: Total Inland Power and Light members.

13,000: Inland members without power at peaks after each of two thunderstorms in the summer of 2014.

10,000: Inland members out at peak during ice storm in 1996.

364: Inland members still out at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24.

7: Number of Inland 3- or 4-person crews that worked to restore power.

15: Contract crews or crews from other electric companies that worked to restore Inland’s power.

168: Miles traveled by Milton-Freewater, Oregon, Electric Department crew to start helping restore Inland’s power.

A handful of trees bring down power lines on Arthur Street near 28th Avenue on Spokane's South Hill during the evening wind storm, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. Several residents were unable to leave their homes because of the hanging power lines. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
A handful of trees bring down power lines on Arthur Street near 28th Avenue on Spokane’s South Hill during the evening wind storm, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. Several residents were unable to leave their homes because of the hanging power lines. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

5,600: Customers of Vera Water and Power in Spokane Valley without power at peak.

10,800: Total number of Vera customers.

51.9: Percentage of Vera customers without power at peak.

35: Percentage of Vera customers without power at peak during ice storm in 1996.

198: Hours it took to restore power to all Vera customers after the windstorm.

236: Hours it took to restore power to all Vera customers after 1996 ice storm.

9: Vera poles replaced after windstorm.

6,800: Customers of Modern Electric Water Company in Spokane Valley without power at peak.

10,000: Total Modern customers.

100: Percentage Modern customers restored by 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

12: Linemen and water workers who worked to restore Modern’s power.

0: Number of contract or other outside workers who worked to restore Modern’s power.

In this Nov. 20, 2015 photo, crews clear downed trees tangled in power and utility lines in Spokane, Wash., after deadly storms swept through the state leaving many without power. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
In this Nov. 20, 2015 photo, crews clear downed trees tangled in power and utility lines in Spokane, Wash., after deadly storms swept through the state leaving many without power. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

13,000: Kootenai Electric Cooperative members without power at peak.

20,000: Total number of Kootenai Electric Co-op members.

128: Kootenai members still out on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 24.

13,000: Members of Northern Lights Inc., based in Sagle, Idaho, without power at peak, all of whom were restored by the evening of Sunday, Nov. 22.

19,000: Total Northern Lights members.

40+: Total Northern Lights poles replaced.

500,000: Estimated cost, in dollars, to fix Northern Lights’ windstorm damage.

30: Northern Lights linemen who worked on outages, in addition to 3 contract linemen.

6,500: Customers of Pend Oreille Public Utility District without power at peak.

8,000: Total Pend Oreille PUD customers.

3:20: Time in the afternoon that Pend Oreille PUD finished restoring final outage on Monday, Nov. 23.

15: Linemen who worked to restore power to Pend Oreille PUD customers.

32: Shift, in hours, of the first Pend Oreille PUD crews to respond to outages.

17: Shift, in hours, of Pend Oreille PUD crews after initial response.

54: Percentage of homes and businesses in North Idaho and Eastern Washington that experienced power outage from the windstorm (counting Avista, Inland Power and Light, Vera, Modern, Pend Oreille Public Utility District, Northern Lights and Kootenai Electric customers or members).

Even basic infrastructure, such as a street sign, was among the casualties of falling trees from Tuesday's storm. Photographed Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Even basic infrastructure, such as a street sign, was among the casualties of falling trees from Tuesday’s storm. Photographed Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

STREETS

817: Trees downed by storm and counted by Wednesday, Nov. 25, in city of Spokane street right-of-way.

62: Intersections in city of Spokane with traffic lights without power at peak after windstorm.

9: Number of those intersections with traffic lights still without power on Monday, Nov. 23.

4: Number of those intersections that were working with a generator.

7: Generators powering traffic lights stolen after windstorm.

2: Number of stolen generators recovered.

3: Days stoplights did not work at Mission and Ruby, though it was on at a couple periods before it was fully restored on Friday.

25,000: Average daily northbound traffic on Ruby at Mission.

6: Days after storm it took to remove tree tangled in wires blocking 14th Avenue near Roosevelt Elementary School.

106: “Critical red” signs (stop, yield or do not enter signs) blown down or broken and fixed in city of Spokane as of noon Wednesday, Nov. 25.

338: Street sign assemblies (two attached street name signs at intersections) blown over in windstorm in city of Spokane. City officials say, however, this is likely only about half the actual number that fell. The signs are designed to give way when struck by a car.

Ryan Butler uses a construction saw to cut back a giant tree which fell across his street, slightly damaging his front porch at 21st Ave. and Adams St. in Spokane during Tuesday night's windstorm. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Ryan Butler uses a construction saw to cut back a giant tree which fell across his street, slightly damaging his front porch at 21st Ave. and Adams St. in Spokane during Tuesday night’s windstorm. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

DEBRIS

4,124: Visits to drop off storm debris at Spokane’s North Side Landfill and Waste-to-Energy Plant through Monday, Nov. 23.

1,627: Tons of debris measured by city’s waste system through Monday, Nov. 23. Statistic does not include debris left at city property on North Foothills Drive that will be dealt with later.

2,100: Tons of debris dropped off at Spokane County’s Colbert and Valley transfer stations through Monday, Nov. 23.

This Nov. 20, 2015 photo shows trees down in Patrick Byrne Park in North Spokane, Wash., after a powerful storm swepts through the area on Tuesday, Nov. 17. More than 180,000 customers lost power at the storm's peak, and those still in the dark a week later face a freezing forecast as Thanksgiving approaches. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
This Nov. 20, 2015 photo shows trees down in Patrick Byrne Park in North Spokane, Wash., after a powerful storm swepts through the area on Tuesday, Nov. 17. More than 180,000 customers lost power at the storm’s peak, and those still in the dark a week later face a freezing forecast as Thanksgiving approaches. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

PARKS

28: Estimated number of trees downed or seriously damaged at Riverfront Park.

100: Riverfront Park’s acreage.

30: Trees lost at Comstock Park in south Spokane.

24.75: Acreage of Comstock.

21: Number of trees, mostly ponderosa pines, lost at Patrick S. Byrne Park in North Spokane.

3: Acreage of Byrne Park.

Nine-year-old Quercus Watters sits bundled up with a hat, gloves and coat solving math problems his cold south Spokane apartment, Friday, Nov. 20,2015, after high winds knocked out power to the region on Tuesday. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Nine-year-old Quercus Watters sits bundled up with a hat, gloves and coat solving math problems his cold south Spokane apartment, Friday, Nov. 20,2015, after high winds knocked out power to the region on Tuesday. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

SCHOOLS

5: Number days of school canceled because of windstorm in Spokane Public Schools.

5: Number days of school canceled by district in aftermath of December 2008 winter storm.

3: Number days of school canceled by district in the aftermath of ice storm in 1996.

36: Number of Spokane Public Schools schools without power or phone service or both day after storm

54: Number of schools in the district.

7: Estimated number of trees that fell on schools in the district.

Volunteer Ceci Garrett checks up on Chad Kranz whose power had just been restored on E. Pratt Street in East Central. Volunteers with the city fanned out through East Central Monday, checking up on people who have been without power for almost a week. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Volunteer Ceci Garrett checks up on Chad Kranz whose power had just been restored on E. Pratt Street in East Central. Volunteers with the city fanned out through East Central Monday, checking up on people who have been without power for almost a week. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

HELPING OUT

400: Volunteers that showed up to go door-to-door in city of Spokane effort to check on people without electricity.

7,200: Doors knocked on by city volunteers Nov. 19 through Tuesday.

2,648: Number of free breakfasts provided by Spokane Public Schools at five locations Nov. 20 through Nov. 24, though the free meals continued for several days after.

3,977: Number of free lunches provided by school district Nov. 20 through Nov. 24.

200: Estimated number of volunteers matched by Catholic Charities Spokane with people who needed help or special equipment because of the storm.

58: Average number of men sleeping most nights after the storm at the House of Charity, on top of the usual 109.

500: People served free pizza at House of Charity by David’s Pizza on Nov. 19.

Roy Jacks, Fred Meyer assistant food manager, stocks frozen food into the store's coolers, Nov. 19, 2015, at Thor and Fourth Street in Spokane, Wash. The food was removed when the power went out on Tuesday and stored in refrigerated trucks until power was restored. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Roy Jacks, Fred Meyer assistant food manager, stocks frozen food into the store’s coolers, Nov. 19, 2015, at Thor and Fourth Street in Spokane, Wash. The food was removed when the power went out on Tuesday and stored in refrigerated trucks until power was restored. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

COMMERCE

10: Estimated hour in the morning the day after the windstorm that Miller’s Hardware on 29th Avenue sold out of batteries.

3 1/2: Estimated number of years it normally would take Miller’s to sell the amount of batteries that it sold from Nov. 17-24, thanks to hardware distributor Jensen Distribution Services sending additional batteries.

70: Estimated percentage of ice cream lost at Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle on Garland Avenue in three-day power outage (though a larger supply of Mary Lou’s ice cream at a different location was saved).

200+: Number of Honda generators ($900 to $5,000) sold by Spokane Power Tool after the windstorm through Tuesday, Nov. 24, often by employees wearing headlamps and using paper-to-pen invoices.

50.1: Percentage of downtown Spokane hotel rooms occupied on Monday, Nov. 16.

77.1: Percentage of rooms occupied on Tuesday, Nov. 17, the night of the storm.

95.4: Percentage of those rooms occupied on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

99.90: Average cost of a downtown Spokane hotel room, in dollars, the week of Nov. 8-14.

102.83: Average cost of downtown Spokane hotel room, in dollars, the week of Nov. 15-21.

Verne Windham of KPBX sits in a dark, unheated studio and prepares to start the national news feed at noon, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. The tiny KPBX studio on N. Monroe is without electricity and is powered only by a portable generator, and only the bare minimum of equipment to keep the studio on the air. There is no heat. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Verne Windham of KPBX sits in a dark, unheated studio and prepares to start the national news feed at noon, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. The tiny KPBX studio on N. Monroe is without electricity and is powered only by a portable generator, and only the bare minimum of equipment to keep the studio on the air. There is no heat. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

30: Estimated percentage of rooms booked for Mirabeau Park Hotel in Spokane Valley for the evening of Nov. 18 booked prior to Nov. 18.

4: Number of hours it took to sell out the 235-room hotel the morning of Nov. 18.

100: Occupancy rate at hotel Nov. 18-22.

91: Occupancy rate at hotel on Nov. 23, the first time since the windstorm the hotel did not sell out.

100: Occupancy rate at Hotel Ruby, Ruby2 and Montvale Hotels on Nov. 18 - 21.

15: Rooms closed for renovation project that were reopened to accommodate windstorm guests at Montvale Hotel.

645: Rooms at Red Lion Hotel at the Park and Red Lion River Inn filled from Nov. 18-22.

645: Total rooms at the two hotels.

70: Estimated number of people in line for donuts at peak at the Donut Parade on Hamilton Street, which never lost electricity, the day after storm.

0: Amount of flour remaining at Donut Parade after windstorm doughnut rush.

Neighbor kids climb on downed trees around Glass Park on Spokane's north side, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, the day after a record-setting wind storm caused widespread power outages and traffic problems caused by falling trees. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Neighbor kids climb on downed trees around Glass Park on Spokane’s north side, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, the day after a record-setting wind storm caused widespread power outages and traffic problems caused by falling trees. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

PUBLIC SAFETY

9: Percentage increase in crime the week of the windstorm compared to the week previous.

2,389: Calls to Spokane County 911 between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. the day of the windstorm.

804: Calls to Crime Check, the non-emergency line for Spokane County 911 between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. the day of the windstorm.

619: Number of incidents that crews were dispatched to in that period.

100: Structures checked by Spokane firefighters since storm to determine structural integrity.