KALISPELL — A major windstorm swept through the Flathead Valley Sunday causing widespread damage and power outages.
At the peak of the storm nearly 37,000 Flathead Electric members were out of power.
Thousands remain without power Monday night as crews work to restore severely damaged areas. Popular parks were closed in Kalispell on Monday due to fallen trees and dangerous conditions.
Kalispell streets were still covered with leftover debris from the storm.
Flathead Electric public relations officer Wendy Ostrom Price says more than half of Flathead Electrics service members were affected by outages.
“In terms of impacts on the number of members across our entire service territory, we think this is the most severe storm and outage event that we’ve experienced,” said Ostrom Price.
Ostrom Price said outside agencies are assisting Flathead Electric with power restoration. She says some rural members should expect outages to continue for the coming days.
The city of Kalispell also sent out a notice to residents about tree cleaning FAQs. Trees on private property must be disposed of by the owner and the city cannot support cleanup or removal on private property. Residents are also asked not to place tree limbs or branches from private trees in the city boulevards, alleys, or the solid waste containers.
Residents are encouraged to dispose of their tree debris at the Flathead County Landfill. The city will handle tree debris in public places. Citizens are not allowed to fell, cut or cord wood on city owned properties.
For more details and frequently asked questions on tree debris removal in Flathead County, click here.
