More than 140,000 remain without power in Portland area as storm damage comes into sharper focus – OregonLive

At least 140,000 customers still had no power Tuesday morning as the havoc wrought by a powerful winter storm lingered throughout the Portland area.

In Marion County, another 60,000 homes and businesses were without power.

Portland General Electric reported three substations remain out of commission, 21 transmission lines have been knocked out and more than 6,000 individual lines were still down as of 6 a.m. Despite the efforts of more than 2,500 workers trying to restore service, some of whom were brought in from out of state, the utility could not provide an estimate of when power would return for many customers.

For some, it would be their fourth day without electricity.

In Gladstone, rescue crews were treating six people for potential carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday morning after a generator was left running an area adjoining a home. Two of the victims were suffering from critical injuries, officials said.

The damage from multiple rounds of ice and snow was not limited to electrical infrastructure, either. Downed trees and power lines have made travel in the region treacherous, with dozens of road closures. Many public transit agencies, some of which had been shut down in previous days, were returning to normal service Tuesday.

In Troutdale, the weight of ice and snow proved too much for the roof of a Safeway store, and it collapsed Monday morning. Customers were inside when the collapse occurred, and one person sustained minor injuries, officials said.

A Les Schwab tire store in Southeast Portland suffered a similar collapse Monday evening, with the roof partially caving in while a cleaning crew was inside. Everyone evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

The family of Antonio Amaro Lopez, a southeast Portland man who was driving on the Glenn Jackson bridge Sunday night, is still searching for answers after it is believed his Subaru SUV lost control on the span, hit an embankment and careened off the bridge into the Columbia River below.

Search crews have been unable to locate the vehicle.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Human Services announced that people who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could request replacements for food that spoiled due to power outages or other storm damage. Households that receive SNAP benefits have 10 days from the date their food went bad to request replacements. For full details on the program, check out the states website.

The Portland metro area was expected to return to normal winter weather Tuesday, with showers and high temperatures in the 40s, but the effects of the storm lingered as many school districts were forced to cancel even their virtual classes due to power outages.

This story will be updated.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale

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More than 140,000 remain without power in Portland area as storm damage comes into sharper focus - OregonLive