Anchorage faces widespread destruction as hurricane-force winds leave thousands without power
At the height of the chaos, around 17,500 homes were in the dark. Thankfully, by Tuesday morning, that number dropped to under 2,000. Chugach Electric is working hard to restore power, acknowledging that many folks have been waiting a long time.
The storm really shook things up in the city. Trees were downed, schools had to close, and the Rabbit Creek Pedestrian Bridge partially collapsed along the Seward Highway.
The National Weather Service reported wind gusts hitting an incredible 129 mph at one weather station. Local resident Raven McCormac shared a video on Facebook, saying, “The house is shaking!”
Officials believe the high winds caused the damage to the Rabbit Creek Bridge. While the steel frame is still standing, the roof and fencing fell onto the highway below.
Schools in Anchorage were closed on Monday, and some other districts in south-central Alaska followed suit. The Anchorage School District mentioned that they still had schools without power and unsafe conditions in parking lots.
The Anchorage Fire Department was busy, responding to over 200 wind-related calls on Sunday alone. They sent out at least one fire engine to each incident, which is a lot more than usual.
Travel plans were also affected, with more than a dozen flights diverted from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport due to the high winds. This included cargo planes and even a military aircraft.
