The best time for power outage prep in Seattle and on the Eastside is early fall, before windstorm season. Sign up for PSE or Seattle City Light outage alerts, learn how your home works without power, stock a kit for several days, and never run a generator indoors or in a garage. In the November 2024 bomb cyclone, some Bellevue-area neighborhoods waited nearly a week for power.
Remember last November? One minute you were making dinner. The next, the wind was roaring, the lights were flickering, and your phone was at 14%.
If you live in Seattle or on the Eastside, windstorm season isn’t a question of if. It’s a question of when. That makes fall the best time for power outage prep: before the first big storm, not while you’re hunting for flashlights in the dark.
What the 2024 Bomb Cyclone Taught Bellevue, Kirkland and Seattle
On November 19, 2024, a bomb cyclone hit Bellevue, toppling trees across the city and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of people around the region. At its peak, more than 400,000 PSE customers were in the dark. In Seattle, City Light counted 114,000 outages, roughly one in five of its customers.
According to KOMO News, PSE said King County took the worst of the damage, and crews on the ground compared it to the most severe storms in decades. FOX 13 Seattle reported that some customers in Pine Lake, Klahanie, Sahalee, Mercer Island and several Bellevue neighborhoods saw their restoration estimates pushed to the following Tuesday afternoon. That’s a full week.
The lesson for Eastside homeowners: with our tall evergreens and overhead power lines, plan for outages that last days, not hours.
Your Fall Power Outage Prep Checklist for Eastside Homes
1. Sign up for outage and emergency alerts
- PSE customers (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah): Set up PSE outage notifications. If your address is part of a reported outage, PSE can alert you that your power is out, give you an estimated restoration time, and tell you when it’s back on.
- Seattle residents: Seattle City Light serves the city. Bookmark its outage map and sign up for AlertSeattle.
- Everyone in King County: ALERT King County is free, and you can register your home address, email, and phone numbers to get safety information during an emergency.
- City alerts: Bellevue Alerts | Kirkland Alerts
2. Learn your home’s “no power” quirks
With my background in construction and design, this is the part I always walk clients through. Every house has surprises when the power goes out:
- Garage door: PSE recommends knowing how to operate garage doors and electric gates manually. Find the red release cord before your car is trapped inside.
- Home phone: Cordless phones won’t work during an outage.
- Water: If your home needs electricity to run water or refill toilets, keep a water reserve on hand. This applies to homes on a well or with a sump pump, which are common in parts of Sammamish, Woodinville, and rural King County.
- Gas fireplace: Check your owner’s manual to see whether it runs without electricity. It could be your best heat source.
3. Build a kit for a week, not a weekend
- Flashlights and headlamps (skip the candles)
- Fully charged power banks
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Ready-to-eat food and bottled water
- Warm layers, blankets and sleeping bags
- Cash, since card readers may be down
- Prescriptions refilled before storm season
King County Emergency Management has more planning guides for winter storms and other hazards.
4. Protect what’s in your fridge
FoodSafety.gov says keep the doors closed, and your fridge will keep food safe for up to 4 hours. A full freezer holds for up to 48 hours, and a half-full one for about 24. A simple trick: fill empty freezer space with frozen water bottles.
5. Use generators safely
This one matters most, and Puget Sound has learned it the hard way. After the 2005 Hanukkah Eve windstorm, hundreds of people needed treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning and eight died, many after burning charcoal indoors or running generators in closed garages.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says to run portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from your home, and never on a porch or in a carport. Seattle Fire notes that carbon monoxide has no color or smell, which makes it so hard to detect. Test your CO alarms now.
6. Plan for medical needs
If anyone in your home uses medical equipment that runs on electricity, PSE recommends signing up for Life Support status on your account. Also have a backup plan: a battery backup or a place to go.
7. Look up at your trees
Walk your property this fall. Look for leaning trunks, dead branches over the roof or driveway, and limbs brushing power lines. A certified arborist can assess risk before a storm does. Check with your city before removing significant trees, since Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond all regulate tree removal.
8. Check on your neighbors
Know who on your street lives alone, is older, or has mobility challenges. A quick knock on the door during a multi-day outage can make all the difference. If a parent or loved one is struggling to manage a large home through storm season, it may be time to talk through downsizing options.
Backup Power: A Growing Priority for Eastside Buyers
For many Eastside homeowners, the 2024 storm turned backup power from a “someday” project into a priority. Standby generators and home battery systems each have real trade-offs in cost, noise, maintenance, and resale appeal, especially in the Eastside luxury market.
- Selling? My sellers guide covers which upgrades are worth it before you list.
- Buying? Ask about backup power, tree health, and storm history when you tour. More in my buyer’s guide.
- Curious what your home is worth? See how your home’s value compares in today’s market.
Power Outage FAQs for Seattle & Eastside Homeowners
How long do power outages last on the Eastside?
Most outages are fixed within hours. In major windstorms, though, they can last several days. After the November 2024 bomb cyclone, some Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Sammamish-area neighborhoods waited nearly a week.
How do I check when my power will be restored?
PSE customers can open the PSE outage map and click the pin or shaded area for their location to see estimated restoration times. Seattle residents should check Seattle City Light’s outage map.
Is it safe to run a generator in my garage?
No. Not even with the door open. Portable generators must run outdoors, at least 20 feet from your home, with exhaust pointed away from windows and doors.
How long is food safe in the fridge during an outage?
About 4 hours with the door closed. A full freezer stays safe for about 48 hours, and a half-full one for about 24 hours.
What should I do if I see a downed power line?
Stay back. PSE advises staying at least 35 feet away from downed power lines and never touching them. Report downed lines or trees on lines to PSE at 1-888-225-5773. In Seattle, report them to City Light.
Helpful Resources for Seattle & Eastside Homeowners
- PSE Outage Map
- PSE Outage Notifications
- PSE Outages & Emergencies FAQ
- Seattle City Light Outage Map
- ALERT King County
- AlertSeattle
- City of Bellevue Alerts
- City of Kirkland Alerts
- FoodSafety.gov: Food Safety During Power Outages
- CPSC: Generator & Carbon Monoxide Safety
Ready Before the Wind Picks Up
A little power outage prep now means a calmer, safer storm season later. Whether you’re getting your current home ready or thinking about what your next home should have, I’d love to be a resource for you. Let’s connect!