Eugene, Lane County winter weather: Some could be without power for a week or more

The winter storm warning has lifted, but it could take weeks for residents in southern and central Willamette Valley to see a full return to normal, with thousands of households still without electricity and with schools, government buildings and other facilities closed.

Fallen trees had damaged homes and other property and knocked out power lines in many places. Road crews were still scrambling to clear blocked roads and highways, with many still closed. Officials were still warning residents against travel, urging those who do venture out to check Tripcheck.com and make sure their routes are open before heading out.

At the same time, state and local government officials were still assessing the damage.

With so much changing so fast, it was difficult to keep track of what was happening. To see the biggest news items from across the region as they are reported, keep reading below.

Power outages: At least 20,000 without electricity; repairs could take up to a week in places

At least 20,000 customers across Lane County were still without power late Thursday.

The Eugene Water and Electric Board was reporting some 12,000 customers without power as of 8 p.m., with the Lane Electric Cooperative reporting more than 4,000 and Pacific Power reporting another 3,959.

EWEB said Thursday afternoon that most customers will have power restored sooner, but in upriver areas, power restoration will take up to a week based on what the utility experienced during the storms in 2016 and 2019.

"The estimate may change depending on the scale of damage, available equipment to replace broken parts and how many contract crews can join EWEB staff crews, who have all been working 16-hour days since Saturday morning," EWEB said in a press release.

Pacific Power said 90% of its customers in Lebanon, Sweet Home, Goshen, Cottage Grove and Creswell were expected to have their power restored by 10 p.m., with "some outages extending into Friday and possibly Saturday based on the extent of the damage."

Warming center availabilities update

Inclement winter weather impacting Lane County led to the activation of numerous warming centers and shelters over the weekend and into the following week.

As of Jan. 18, most warming centers were closed, as activation protocols typically require forecasted temperatures to drop to or below freezing.

Lane County’s updated cooling and warming center list notes that most spaces closed on Wednesday as temperatures rose and ice began to melt.

As the Eugene Water and Electric Board works to restore power to almost 13,000 customers without power as of Thursday afternoon, those without access to electricity can utilize the following spaces for respite:

• St. Vincent de Paul

  • Service Station at 456 Hwy 99, Eugene. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a closure for lunch from 1-2 p.m. and showers available until 4:30 p.m.

  • 1st Place Family Center at 4060 W. Amazon Dr. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Looking Glass New Roads Center (Youth and Young Adults up to age 24)

  • Located at 941 W. 7th Avenue, Eugene. Open 8:30 a.m. with the lobby closing at 6:45 p.m.

• Springfield School District Respite Centers

  • Springfield High School located at 875 7th Street, Springfield.

  • Two Rivers-Dos Rios Elementary School located at 1064 G Street, Springfield.

    • Both locations plan to open Thurs. Jan. 18 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with expected operational timelines to be open until Jan. 21

    • The Springfield School District respite centers are primarily for students and their families but acknowledge there are district staff members in need who can also utilize the centers.

Slowdowns, delays on I-5 Friday afternoon between Goshen and Creswell

Drivers should plan for slowdowns and delays this afternoon in both directions of Interstate 5 about halfway between Goshen and Creswell, the Oregon Department of Transportation.

ODOT said the department will be assisting utility crews around 3 p.m. as they restore power lines downed during the winter storms.

Springfield declares state of emergency

The City of Springfield has joined the chorus of Oregon governments declaring a state of emergency over the damage caused by the past week’s ice storms.

Springfield was among the hardest hit areas in the state, with widespread power outages, road closures and property damage.

The declaration could help with city to request state and federal assistance as it works to rebound from the storm.

The city also opened its Emergency Operations Center, according to a release issued just before noon on Thursday.

“We also urge residents to continue to check on their neighbors, especially elderly or vulnerable individuals who may need assistance during this emergency,” according to the release. “If you are experiencing a medical emergency or require immediate assistance, please call 911.”

More: Lane County residents cope with winter storm, power outages

Public health department reports increase in carbon monoxide poisoning

Lane County Public Health is warning residents about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning after seeing a sudden uptick in cases as many residents turn to alternative heating sources amid widespread power outages.

An odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly to humans, CO can be found in fumes produced by fuel in cars/trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, furnaces, or generators, according to the health department. The symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

Health officials urge people to go outside and then call 911 any time they suspect CO poisoning.

To prevent CO poisoning, residents should make sure that anything that burns fuel, including gas generators, are at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, the department advises. Residents should also install CO detectors inside homes and make sure they have fresh batteries and are operational.

Eugene lifts parking ban

The City of Eugene announced Thursday afternoon that it was lifting its Snow/Ice Emergency ban on parking on priority streets.

Crews were still working to clear snow and ice from parts of the city but things had cleared up enough that parking was possible again on main thoroughfares as described in the city’s “Ice/Snow Routes” map.

In the meantime, city crews were still working to respond to “hundreds of work orders” for fallen trees, tree limbs and other debris.

“We have several tree crews out every day clearing and, when possible, hauling away debris,” said Chris Girard, the city’s parks operations manager. “Due to the dynamic nature of this ice storm, we expect our response work to be ongoing and long-term. We appreciate the responsiveness of community members who have alerted us to hazards in their areas.”

All city parks remained closed.

Community members were urged to call 541-682-4800 to report trees or limbs blocking traffic. The city urged residents to not shove tree debris off private properties and onto city streets.

The city had also started a “Storm Response” web page to house new updates.

Lane County launches non-emergency line

The Lane County government has launched a call center to answer the non-emergency ice storm line: 541-682-3977. Emergency calls should still go to 9-1-1.

"The non-emergency call center is intended to give people a place to call for information and updates that aren’t appropriate to direct to law enforcement," said county spokesperson Devon Ashbridge.

Ashbridge said most of their callers have been people calling for information about road openings, warming centers and utility updates but who can't access that information online because of power outages, and that they received 82 calls in the center's first half-day.

Melina McLaughlin, spokesperson for Eugene Police, said as of 3:55 p.m. Thursday, Central Lane 911 has handled 12,334 calls since midnight Saturday, almost double the 7,242 calls they received for the same period last year.

Red Cross opens shelter in Creswell

The Red Cross, in partnership with Northwest Baptist Disaster Response and the Oregon Department of Human Services, has opened a shelter in Creswell for those without power.

The shelter opened at 8 p.m. Wednesday at New Hope Baptist Church, at 597 S. Front Street in Creswell.

The shelter will be open 24 hours per day and is considered full service with places to sleep and meals served, Red Cross spokesperson Rebecca Marshall said.

The shelter cannot accommodate pets tonight, said Marshall, but hopes to have a partner established Thursday so the people can bring their pets, too.

Springfield Schools declares emergency, plans to open two respite centers

The Springfield Public Schools held an emergency school board meeting Wednesday evening an declared an emergency due to damage to school property and power outages caused by this week's ice storms.

Springfield Schools, which will remain closed Thursday, also plans to open two respite centers at district schools that still have power.

Learn more about the district emergency Springfield Public Schools declares emergency, opening respite centers to those without power

Schools announce Friday closures

Many school districts have not extended their closures. The following schools have announced Friday closures:

Lane County Public Schools

• Blachly

• Creswell

• Crow-Applegate-Lorane

• Eugene: no school for students but staff will report

• Fern Ridge

• Junction City

• Mapleton

• Marcola

• McKenzie

• Pleasant Hill

• Springfield

• South Lane

Lane Private & Charter Schools

• O’Hara Catholic School

• Marist Catholic High School

• Willamette Leadership Academy

How to prepare for a power outage How to prepare for a power outage, safety tips when the power is out

Note: This list will be updated as more announcements are made.

Road closures in Lane County due to falling trees

The Oregon Department of Transportation released a list of highway closures and expected delays around the county:

• I-5 northbound, mile point 185: Expect rolling slowdowns and delays around 3pm Thursday in both directions on Interstate 5 around milepost 185, about halfway between Goshen and Creswell. Crews will be working to restore downed power lines.

• Oregon Route 126 W, mile points 14-40: The Florence-Eugene Highway has reopened, but Oregon Department of Transportation Officials asked drivers to use caution "as vegetation is still along the side of the road and crews will continue to work in the area for weeks to come."

• Oregon Route 36, mile points 11-36: The Mapleton-Junction City Highway is closed between mile points 11 and 36 due to downed trees. Use an alternate route.

• OR Route 99, mile points 11-12: The highway is closed just north of the intersection with E. Saginaw Road due to downed trees. Use an alternate route.

The US-20 Santiam Highway has been reopened between Sweet Home and the intersection with Oregon Route 126. It had been closed Wednesday due to downed trees that have since been cleared out.

Some organizations remain closed Friday

Several Lane County organizations and entities that closed on Friday:

• Willamalane: Will open Bob Keefer Center and Willamalane Adult Activity Center as community respite centers. Willamalane Park Swim Center, Splash!, parks, and recreation programs remain closed.

• Head Start of Lane County: Closed

• Pearl Buck Center: Closed

• Lane Education Service District: Closed

PeaceHealth facilities return to services

After temporary closures of clinics and other services, PeaceHealth facilities in Lane County are coming back to full service with some adjusted hours:

• Surgical operations will return to normal capacity at RiverBend.

• Pediatrics Plus at Valley River will open at 10 a.m.

• Family Medicine clinics at Barger, South Eugene, Santa Clara, RiverBend, University District, and Cottage Grove will open at 10 a.m.

• Cottage Grove Walk-In Clinic will open at 10 a.m.

• University District Urgent Care will close early at 7 p.m.

• All other PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics return to regular hours.

Gov. Tina Kotek declares state of emergency in Lane County

Gov. Tina Kotek late Tuesday night declared a state of emergency in Lane County, to support the county’s response and recovery from the severe ice storm that created widespread infrastructure damage and power outages.

The governor's office said the declaration was issued at the unanimous request of Lane County Board of Commissioners, who also declared a state of emergency Tuesday evening. She directed the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to provide assistance, support a damage assessment, and seek federal resources for recovery and reconstruction due to damages.“This emergency declaration will support the county in accessing critical federal resources to aid in reconstruction and recovery efforts," Kotek said in a prepared statement announcing the declaration. "My office is monitoring the ongoing weather conditions and will continue to support local communities in their response and recovery efforts.”

Lane County Board of Commissioners declares emergency

The Lane County Board of Commissioners unanimously declared a local emergency throughout Lane County Tuesday evening.

County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky said the main pieces of an emergency declaration are to recoup costs and to loosen procurement rules.

The county government, city governments, public utilities and rural fire districts in Lane County have collectively spent more than $2 million to respond to the ice storm. The emergency declaration lets the county commissioners appeal to the governor and president to recoup those costs and it lets Mokrohisky buy supplies or contract for assistance in ways he would normally need commissioner approval for during the next 14 days.

Commissioners approved the emergency declaration with little discussion and thanked county staff.

“All day, on and off, staff has been in meetings working on the logistics of the response,” Commissioner Laurie Trieger said. “I just want to very much appreciate our whole staff, the leadership team, the line staff, the folks who are out in the thick of it: both Lane County staff, but also of course all emergency responders, utility crews, and particularly our sheriff’s office and public works folks.”

The county has set up a nonemergency call center for the ice storm and recovery efforts. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and can be reached at 541-682-3977. Emergency calls should be directed to 911.

The City of Springfield also declared an emergency on Tuesday.

State parks closed due to snow and ice

Nine Oregon state parks have closed or partially closed due to ice, snow and downed trees along the north coast and in the Willamette Valley.

More from icy Eugene: Eugene bar offers warming shelter during ice storm

Visitors are encouraged to check park pages on the state parks website before visiting as well as local forecasts and TripCheck for road conditions.

The current closures include:

• Saddle Mountain State Natural Area

• Elijah Bristow State Park

• Jasper State Recreation Site

• Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint

• Day-use area at Nehalem Bay State Park

• Vista House in the Columbia River Gorge

• Campground at L.L. Stub Stewart State Park (for incoming reservations that have not checked in) and the Buxton Trailhead.

Oregon's Emergency Coordination Center activated

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Coordination Center for state agencies and nonprofit partners to share life safety resources, including activating 211 to support warming shelters in several counties.

"If you or someone you know needs a place to stay warm, call 211 or visit 211info.org to find open warming centers in your area; 211 also offers and coordinates transport services to and from warming centers," the agency said.

Emergency Management encouraged people to stay home, stay informed, have an emergency plan and stock an emergency kit.

Oregonians can sign up for local emergency alerts at oralert.gov If you have moved, you should update your information.

The agency said a basic emergency supply kit in case the power goes out includes the following items:

• Enough water for one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation.

• Several days’ supply of non-perishable, easy-to-eat food such as peanut butter, protein and granola bars, jerky, nuts, fruit, pretzels, crackers, beans and rice.

• A manual can opener.

• A battery-powered or hand crank radio or a weather radio.

• A flashlight with extra batteries.

• A first-aid kit.

• Sleeping bags or warm blankets.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon winter live updates: Power outages, Eugene school closures