Thousands in dark after snow hits Oregon Coast
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FLORENCE, Ore. - The snow gave way to wind and rain - but the job is still the same for Central Lincoln PUD crews: restore power to thousands of customers left in the dark this week along the central Oregon Coast.
"It's been a bit chaotic, but this is what we do," said lineman Scott Johnson.
For Johnson, it's been a long week of fixing power lines, riding his bucket truck and racking up the hours.
"In my 34 years in this industry, this is one of the worst," he said.
At the peak of the storm late Monday night, 5,000 Central Lincoln customers in the Florence and Dunes City area lost service. At its worst, 10,000 customers from Lincoln City south to Reedsport were without power.
With more wind expected Wednesday and Thursday, crews focused on Dunes City.
"To do so, we're making sure that we don't have any energized wires laying on the ground that our customers could get into," said Gary Nieborsky with Central Lincoln PUD.
Officials said if the weather doesn't turn against them and crews make enough progress, the rest of their customers in Florence could have power by Friday night.
"I hate to make a promise," Nieborsky said, "but we're hoping so."
