(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - A landslide and fallen tree in the Ward Cove area blocked traffic for several hours as well as cut power to all of the residents of North Tongass yesterday around 4:30 pm. The fallen tree damaged a utility pole about seven miles north of Ketchikan breaking utility lines and cross-beams on the pole. Peak wind speed was reported by Ketchikan International Airport as 43 Monday with the average wind speed at 10.6. Almost an inch of rain fell Monday, with 2.21 inches reported Sunday helping to loosen the soil around the tree's roots.

Ketchikan Public Utilities was able to alert North Tongass residents with smart phones & cellular service of the situation. According to KPU Electric, a landslide near the Ward Cove substation block the North Tongass Highway to through traffic and the fallen tree caused a large power outage.

According to KPU Electric, the outage tripped the Mountain Point substation and the substation for Bear -- those two areas had brief power outages.

To further compound the issue, at the same time of the landslide, an insulator on a SEAPA line was tripped, affecting power. KPU Electric mobilized their entire crew, and the Alaska Department of Transportation was immediately on the scene to assist in clearing the blocked road. The North Tongass Highway is the only access road for thousands of residents living north of Ketchikan and the Ward Cove area. By 7:00 pm, KPU Electric notified residents using FaceBook that the highway was again open to traffic.

The road was again blocked temporarily for a short time as the KPU crew raised a utility pole. With the KPU crew working through the windy and rainy night to restore electric services, North Tongass residents had their electric services restored around 7:00 am, Tuesday.

This is the second incident in the Ward Cove area this year. The Ketchikan Daily News (subscription required ) reported that trees in this area had already been identified as in need of cutting and the plan had been plan to cut the trees today.

To receive the latest updates on power outages, like KPU Electric Services' FaceBook page. You will then receive the most current information in your FaceBook service as it is distributed by KPU.

On the Web:

Vist KPU Electric on FaceBook at:
https://www.facebook.com/KPUElectric

Read the Ketchikan Daily News article (subscription required http://www.ketchikandailynews.com/premium/Local-Ward-Cove-power-outage

Click on the Like button below to Like KPU Electric on FaceBook. You will then receive current updates and information through your FaceBook services.

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Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

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