The Pacific Northwest recently experienced a devastating ice storm that wreaked havoc on roads and caused numerous accidents. One tragic incident occurred in Portland, Oregon, where a power line fell on a car, resulting in the death of three individuals and injuring a baby.
During the height of the ice storm in Portland, a large branch collapsed onto a power line, causing it to crash onto a parked car. Tragically, three occupants of the vehicle, including two adults and one teenager, lost their lives in the incident. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the victims lying in the street, while a baby was rushed to the hospital for treatment. It is believed that the victims were electrocuted after exiting the car and coming into contact with the live wire.
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The ice storm, which paralyzed Portland and surrounding areas, made driving and even walking incredibly dangerous. The roads and sidewalks were coated with a slippery layer of ice, making transportation nearly impossible. Icicles hung from roofs and cars, while branches and plants were encased in a thick glass-like layer of ice. The storm warnings initially covered a large region, but were later limited to parts of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, including the populous city of Portland.
This tragic incident added to the already grim toll of the ice storm, which had claimed the lives of at least seven individuals due to fallen trees and suspected hypothermia during the previous cold snap. Many residents, like Diane Flaherty from southwest Portland, endured prolonged power outages, leaving them without electricity for days. The storm also disrupted air travel, with flights being canceled or delayed, and caused heavy snowfall in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The ice storm left a significant number of homes and businesses without power, with more than 90,000 reported outages across the country, primarily in Oregon. Oregon’s major east-west highway, Interstate 84, was closed for a stretch of 47 miles due to the threat of ice accumulation. The region’s infrastructure suffered heavily, hampering transportation and daily activities.
Given the hazardous road conditions and the potential for new power outages, schools and government buildings were forced to close. Portland Public Schools, the largest district in the state, canceled classes for a second day to ensure the safety of students and staff. Multnomah County, home to Portland, also had to close courts, libraries, and parks. The demand for emergency weather shelters surged, leading county officials to extend the state of emergency and call for volunteers.
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The Pacific Northwest typically experiences abundant rainfall, making it an unexpected location for arctic temperatures and ice storms. However, due to the region’s heavily forested areas, the danger of falling trees and power lines is amplified during freezing rain or ice storms. Freezing rain occurs when liquid rainwater freezes upon contact with cold surfaces such as roads, resulting in hazardous accumulations of ice. This additional weight can cause tree limbs and power lines to snap, particularly when coupled with strong winds.
While warmer air was expected to provide some relief from the icy conditions, recovery efforts were still underway. Crews worked tirelessly to restore power to the affected areas and clear the roads of debris. However, the process was hindered by staffing limitations and the magnitude of the storm’s impact. Emergency shelters were overwhelmed with people seeking refuge from the cold, prompting the county to extend the state of emergency and strive to meet the increasing demand for assistance.