Tragic Incident in Northeast Portland
During an ice storm on Wednesday, a power line fell onto a parked SUV in northeast Portland, Oregon, killing three people and injuring a baby. The ice storm had made roads and mountain highways in the Pacific Northwest extremely hazardous. Shortly before noon, emergency dispatchers began receiving urgent calls about the downed power line and reports of electrocution, according to the city’s fire department.
Heroic Rescue Attempt
A resident, seeing the danger, bravely grabbed the baby from one of the victims lying on the street in an effort to save the child’s life. Unfortunately, the three victims, which included two adults and one teenager, were found deceased by firefighters upon arrival. The baby was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment.
Power Line Hazards and Safety Advice
Portland Fire & Rescue spokesman Rick Graves explained that the victims likely attempted to exit the vehicle after the power line fell on it, leading to their electrocution when they touched the ground while still in contact with the car. Graves emphasized the importance of staying inside a vehicle if a power line falls on it and calling 911, as the car’s rubber tires can insulate and protect against electric current. “Staying in the vehicle could have prevented this tragedy,” Graves said.
Ice Storm Chaos and Impact
The ice storm caused treacherous conditions around Portland, making driving and walking nearly impossible as ice coated roads and sidewalks. A significant portion of the region was under ice storm warnings, which later narrowed to areas including southwest Washington and northwest Oregon. The National Weather Service warned that more freezing rain could hit the area from Thursday evening into Friday morning, impacting eastern Portland and the Columbia River Gorge.
Regional Power Outages and Continuing Storm Effects
Portland transportation officials advised the public to avoid driving, and many schools, including Oregon’s largest district, remained closed due to icy roads. The fatalities on Wednesday added to the toll from the previous weekend’s storm, which included deaths from fallen trees and suspected hypothermia. As the storm continued to affect the region, power outages were widespread, with nearly 90,000 homes and businesses without electricity, primarily in Oregon.
Local and National Weather Challenges
Neighboring regions, including Vancouver, British Columbia, also faced significant disruptions from the storm, with heavy snow affecting traffic and flights. Across the U.S., cold weather strained electricity supplies, with freezing temperatures reaching as far south as Florida. The severe weather had devastating effects, with multiple deaths in western New York and Pennsylvania due to snow and icy conditions, highlighting the widespread impact of the winter storm across the country.
Community Response and Resilience
Communities responded to the storm with various measures, such as opening shelters and providing heating supplies on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. In Tennessee, extreme cold led to numerous weather-related deaths and the cancellation of classes in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The Tennessee Valley Authority reported a record peak power demand due to the frigid temperatures, emphasizing the severe and widespread impact of the winter storm.