A transformer reportedly exploded and a utility pole toppled onto a nearby building, blocking 29th at Madison, and trapping a driver in a pickup truck in a burst of windy, stormy weather Tuesday afternoon.
Seattle Fire was called to the scene of the downed Seattle City Light pole around 1:45 PM. A truck trapped by the wires was reportedly occupied and emergency crews were working to make the area safe for rescue. UPDATE: Seattle Fire reports that the driver was uninjured in the incident.
Power pole down at E Madison St & 29th Ave E blocking all lanes in both directions. Use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/MqYMNDpHAZ
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) November 9, 2021
We do not have information on the building damaged in the 2900 block E Madison incident. Responders were checking the building to make sure nobody was injured by the falling debris. The building’s address is listed as the Arboretum Professional Center, a facility with offices for psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals.
Some pictures from Madison Street just west of Lake Washington Boulevard in Seattle right after the heavy showers moved through earlier this afternoon. Pictures courtesy of a retired NWS Seattle lead forecaster. Stay aware out there today! #wawx pic.twitter.com/X3FATW8APd
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) November 9, 2021
E Madison was fully blocked to traffic during the response.
There were no immediate widespread outages reported in the area on a day when City Light was already handling multiple service disruptions around the city involving more than 3,000 customers.
UPDATE 3:15 PM: Seattle City Light now reports around 4,000 customers without power east of Capitol Hill as of just after 3 PM:
The National Weather Service issued “a special weather statement” for the Seattle area only minutes before the incident warning of 40 MPH wind and hail.
A special weather statement has been issued for Seattle WA, Bellevue WA, Everett WA until 2:15 PM PST pic.twitter.com/dQjfXUEtf8
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) November 9, 2021
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