Storm batters Boundary, Bonner counties

After high winds, driving rain, and lightning struck the Panhandle Wednesday evening, thousands of Boundary and Bonner County residents found themselves without power. 

Despite the best efforts of repair crews, downed trees, damaged equipment, and phone service outages have delayed power restoration for more than a day in small communities in the area. 

According to a 6 p.m. Thursday update provided by utility company Northern Lights Inc., the company expects to restore service to Moyie Springs and the Three Mile area Thursday evening as long as no additional damage is discovered. 

Northern Lights Inc. expects out-of-power residents of the Pack River, Selle Valley, Colburn Culver, and Gold Creek areas to have service restored by Friday afternoon at the earliest. 

Additionally, the company described widespread damage in the Priest River and Priest Lake regions; West Bonner County School District closed Priest Lake Elementary School Thursday due to a loss of power. Northern Lights Inc. said in its Thursday evening update that no meter in the Priest Lake region had power, but that most service locations in the area would be restored by Friday night. 

Much of the damage to power infrastructure occurred around 5 p.m. Wednesday, when bursts of strong wind felled trees and brought down power lines across North Idaho. According to Northern Lights Inc., crews worked to replace 15 broken power poles overnight and restrung downed wires. 

Services across Boundary County were disrupted throughout Wednesday night and Thursday. Boundary County School District closed all schools Thursday, and multiple fallen powerlines across Perkins Lake Road forced Boundary County Road and Bridge to close the street from Solomon Lake Road to Perkins Lake Thursday morning. 

Additionally, numerous Bonners Ferry businesses in the community were unable to open Thursday morning. With gas stations closed, many residents traveled to Bonner County for fuel and other supplies. 

Boundary Community Hospital remained open throughout the storm by operating on a backup generator. Hospital officials reported Thursday morning they were using emergency command protocols to ensure patients received care — most outpatient services were canceled. 

As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, about 4,300 Bonner County meters remain out, according to Northern Lights Inc.’s outage map. About 1,100 Boundary County meters are powerless. According to Avista Utilities, nearly all Bonner County customers have power.