Local & Community
More Than 400 IID Customers Still Without Power in North Shore Area
Utility crews continued working Friday to restore power to more than 400 Imperial Irrigation District customers in the North Shore area, near the Salton Sea, who have been without power since a Monday night storm.
The storm, described by an IID board member as “an act of God,” destroyed more than 30 electrical poles, causing about 1,400 customers to initially lose power at 7:30 p.m. Monday, according to IID.
The utility restored power to 105 customers at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, and to another 143 customers two hours later. As of Thursday, 412 customers remained in the dark.
According to an IID representative, weather conditions made the continued restoration effort difficult.
County Supervisor Manuel Perez, whose Fourth District encompasses Thousand Palms, tweeted Wednesday that the IID has provided limited hotel vouchers for people left vulnerable due to the power outage. Perez said people requesting emergency housing will have to provide their name, phone number and household size.
Shane Reichardt, spokesman for Riverside County’s Emergency Management Department, told The Desert Sun such housing is not typically offered during outages.
“So, that’s where it’s very nice that Imperial Irrigation is providing those, and we’re trying to make sure that anybody who has a need for something like a hotel is connected with that resource,” Reichardt told the paper.
The IID held a special board meeting Tuesday and declared the outage a local emergency, meaning the utility can be reimbursed for expenses made in the effort to restore power from the state once approved by Riverside County.
According to IID, the poles in North Shore knocked down by the storm were initially installed 27 years ago. They will be replaced by what a board member described as “a higher class” of pole.
IID reported 80 personnel were deployed to the restoration effort under “extreme weather conditions,” and the utility was making ice and bottled water available for North Shore customers affected by the outage.
The supplies were being provided at the IID command center, located near the intersection of Club View Drive and Vander Veer Road.
The Yacht Club at 99-155 Sea View Drive in Mecca has been designated as a cooling center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until power is restored. The Yacht Club was also the location of a food distribution event Wednesday morning.
Amid the North Shore outage, Imperial County also got hit by a weather storm on Tuesday, Aug.31, that damaged more than 100 poles across the area of Calipatria and Niland.
IID held another special meeting Thursday to address the Imperial County storm, during which they declared the event a local emergency, meaning they are contending with two emergencies at once.
“With back to back storms, IID is doing everything it can to get the power back on as quickly and as safely as possible,” said Marilyn Del Bosque Gilbert, IID energy manager. “With extensive damage affecting both the Coachella and Imperial Valleys, coordination is key. We’re working closely with both Riverside County and Imperial County to address specific needs for each area and we thank them for their support. We also appreciate our customers’ patience as crews work around the clock to turn the lights back on for everyone.”
The IID serves electricity to more than 150,000 customers in parts of Riverside and San Diego counties, and all of Imperial County.
By: Ceci Partridge
September 3, 2021
Latest Instagram Posts
As the Lindsay Clancy trial begins to close, discussions regarding postpartum mental health and postpartum care have began to draw attention to the level of care needed after childbirth. Maria Noble Valdez looked at this discussion locally with a mental health expert and mom here in Coachella Valley. #lindsayclancytrial #pospartum #mentalhealth #760 #nationalnews
EVEN PARKING HAS A VIP SECTION? A mall in Bakersfield is charging shoppers up to $10 a day for preferred parking spots closer to the entrance. So we had to ask: Would you pay for a better parking spot? And could paid parking eventually come to Valley malls? Fred Roggin and the panel weigh in on this week’s Roggin Report. Would you pay $10 for a prime parking spot? #RogginReport #FredRoggin #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Parking
📞 Call 760.466.0800 or visit DAPHealth.org to schedule your appointment today! Flu viruses change every year, and getting vaccinated is the best way to strengthen your immune system, lower the risk of severe illness or hospitalization, and protect your loved ones. Sponsored by: DAP Health
A wedding day they’ll never forget. 💍🌊 A couple in the Philippines refused to let monsoon flooding wash away their special day — exchanging vows while standing waist-deep in floodwaters. Talk about making a splash on your wedding day! #WeddingDay #Philippines #Flooding #Monsoon #Wedding #Love #NBCPalmSprings
Idyllwild’s Mayor Max III is turning four! Yes, you read that right — Idyllwild has a canine mayor, and Mayor Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller III is celebrating his fourth birthday this week. Max is part of a tradition that began in 2012, when the mountain community first elected a dog as mayor. His “campaign donations”? Belly rubs and dog treats. Mayor Max’s birthday celebration is happening Saturday, September 5, at Mountain Paws in Idyllwild, and the community is invited. Come celebrate the mayor — and maybe bring a treat. #NBCPalmSprings #Idyllwild #MayorMax #MayorMaxIII #PalmSprings CoachellaValley DogsOfInstagram DogMayor CaliforniaNews
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
More than 2,000 rescues — and the year isn’t over yet. Santa Clemente lifeguards are keeping a close eye on the Pacific as they prepare for potentially stronger surf and bigger waves this winter. From Tower Zero, lifeguards monitor the entire beach and use cameras to spot trouble in the water. One of their biggest concerns? Rip currents, which can pull swimmers far from shore. With more rescues already this year than all of last year, lifeguards say the key is simple: be ready before someone needs help. #SanClemente #Lifeguards #OceanSafety #RipCurrents #BeachSafety SurfSafety SouthernCalifornia PacificOcean NBCPalmSprings
The Salton Sea is at a crossroads. From a massive restoration project bringing habitat back to the shoreline, to a potential lithium boom, and the new Salton Sea Conservancy, its future is being shaped right now. We’re taking you behind the scenes to explore what comes next for the Salton Sea. In our newest 30-minute report, go behind-the-scenes with the state’s conservation team, learn about updated timlines from lithium executives, and hear how former political leaders paved the way. Restoring the Salton Sea: Progress, Promise and Pressure. Streaming this Sunday on NBC Palm Springs. #saltonsea #lithiumvalley #saltonseaconservancy #marybono
A few PSUSD students will get a unique opportunity to learn more about careers in Aviation at the Palm Springs Air Museum with the districts launch of their Aviation and Aeronautics Career Exploration Program. Be sure to stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs to learn all about this. #palmspringsairmuseum #palmsprings #aviationeducation #psusd #backtoschool
Escape to the mountains without spending a fortune. Looking for a unique getaway? Hicksville Pines Bud & Breakfast in Idyllwild offers themed rooms, retro arcade games, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, nightly camp movies and plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the mountain air. And there’s a special deal for NBC Palm Springs viewers: 15% off your stay 20% off additional nights when available Use code NBCPalmSprings at checkout The adults-only property also offers a relaxed 420-friendly atmosphere and complimentary breakfast, including a memorable cannabis-leaf-shaped waffle. Would you stay here for a mountain getaway? #NBCPalmSprings #Idyllwild #HicksvillePines #MountainGetaway #CaliforniaGetaway WeekendGetaway CoachellaValley TravelCalifornia