Utilities respond to widespread outages

More than 30,000 electricity customers lost service across Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna region, according to figures reported by Alaska’s News Source. Chugach Electric’s outage map listed about 12,500 affected customers, while Matanuska Electric Association reported outages affecting more than 19,800.

At 9:40 a.m., Matanuska Electric reported that about 9,000 members lacked power in Eagle River, more than 4,000 were affected in the Meadow Lakes and Houston area, and over 2,000 were without service around Birchwood and Chugiak. The utility said its crews were focusing first on larger feeder outages and that it was working to secure additional crews.

Chugach Electric said its Southern Tie transmission line between Anchorage and Hope tripped at about 8 a.m. The utility expected customers from Indian to Hope to have service restored by 8:30 a.m. It advised people to avoid fallen lines and trees while crews addressed outages and hazards.

High winds complicate travel

The National Weather Service forecast gusts of up to 70 mph in the Anchorage Bowl and along the Glenn Highway corridor, with the Anchorage Hillside potentially reaching 80 mph. A separate advisory for Butte, Palmer, Wasilla and Big Lake warned of gusts as high as 60 mph. Forecasters said rain and strong winds would create difficult travel conditions, while commuters reported challenging driving between Anchorage and the Valley.

The Anchorage School District dismissed all employees except Building Plant Operators after initially closing only to students on Friday. Hangar 5 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was closed until further notice, and officials had no estimated restoration time for outages on the base. Schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough were reported to remain open.

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