Bellevue mostly fine after Round One of big wind storms

Bellevue and King County largely escaped damage from the first serious windstorm of fall late Sunday night.

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) on Monday reported 85 outages, most of which occurred in Skagit and Whatcom Counties.

PSE spokeswoman Abigail Elliott said there were scattered outages in King County, but none in Bellevue.

More storms were expected Monday night and Tuesday.

The National Weather Service is predicting more widespread winds of up to 60 miles per hour during those times as a low-pressure system moves north toward Vancouver Island. Heavy rains are also considered likely.

The American Red Cross suggests preparing for high winds by removing diseased and damaged limbs from trees; securing lawn furniture, outdoor decorations, trash cans, and all other items that could get picked up by wind; and drawing blinds and shades over windows to prevent glass from shattering into homes.

Power outages should be reported to PSE at 888-225-5773.

The Red Cross offers the following tips on dealing with outages.

• Assemble essential supplies, including: flashlight, batteries, portable radio, at least one gallon of water, and a small supply of food.

• Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Do not use candles, as this could start a fire

• Use the phone for emergencies only. Listening to a portable radio can provide the latest information. Do not call 9-1-1 for information – only to report a life-threatening emergency.

• Do not run a generator inside a home or garage. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system.

• Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out. Leave one light on so you know when the power comes back on.

• Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer.

• If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem.

• Stay focused on the risks of smoke and carbon monoxide. Alarms are available at most hardware stores. Check the batteries. If the alarm sounds: get to fresh air by going outside. Contact the fire department before going back inside a home.