UPDATE: 7:20 p.m. - November 24, 2024
We're following up on the power outages that impacted around 18,000 people on Saturday night.
There were less than 1,000 without power as of Sunday evening.
Flathead Electric Cooperative reports four crews working to restore power to Essex and the lower Canyon.
While the power has mostly been restored in the West Glacier area, outages are still reported in Essex, Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse and Coram due to widespread damage.
According to FEC, there is a good possibility it will remain out overnight.
In Lincoln County, Lincoln Electric Cooperative as of this morning over 20 crews are working to restore power all over the county.
There is no estimated time for power restoration and crews will be working throughout the night .
Lincoln Electric Cooperative is reminding people to stay clear of downed power lines and to treat all downed lines as live and extremely dangerous.
Power outage information:
Flathead Electric Cooperative outage map: https://outage.flathead.coop:8181/
Lincoln Electric Cooperative Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincolnelectriccooperative.
(third report: November 24, 2024)
Lincoln Electric Cooperative reports as of Sunday morning over 20 crews actively working to restore power in the following areas:
- Rexford
- Pinkham / Upper Pinkham
- Indian Creek
- Meadow Creek
- Deep Creek
- Trego
In their Facebook post, LEC said they do not yet have an estimated time for power restoration.
Outages are still being tracked, and crews are doing everything possible to resolve the situation.
(second report: 8:45 a.m. - November 24, 2024)
FEC reports that trees continued to fall overnight, but crews continued to make progress.
As of 7:30 a.m., Sunday, about 1,000 members are without power, down from 18,000 at the height of Saturday’s outage issues.
FEC says an additional crew is headed to Essex to use a snowcat to clean up the remaining downed trees on power lines.
Crews will continue to repair the system until all members are restored.
For the latest information, visit: https://outage.flathead.coop:8181/
Lincoln County residents were also without power Sunday morning, according to Lincoln Electric Cooperative.
(first report: 6:18 p.m. - November 23, 2024)
More than 15,000 people are without power in Flathead and Lincoln counties Saturday evening due to winter storms.
FEC reported power outages around 2:40 p.m. on Saturday. In an update, FEC said that downed trees on power lines in Whitefish and Columbia Falls and large branches on transmission lines are also contributing to the outage.
Engineers and dispatchers are working to switch loads in Columbia Falls and Badrock/Highway 206 to different electricity feeds.
Crews are also working to isolate issues in the Hungry Horse and West Glacier areas.
Lincoln Electric Cooperative has also reported that downed trees are causing power outages in Lincoln County.
LEC crews are out working to restore power and clear trees.
LEC asks the public to be cautious when out and to look out for downed lines and broken power poles.
Updates from FEC will be posted on their website and updates from LEC can be found on their Facebook page.
