A powerful December windstorm knocked out electricity to hundreds of thousands of households across Western Washington, with utility companies reporting up to 500,000 homes and businesses lost power as gusts reached more than 70 mph and trees fell on lines.
From Snohomish and King County to Island and Skagit County, families experienced outages lasting anywhere from a few hours to several days.
For many homeowners, it was a wake-up call.
“Each time it’s a learning curve,” says Sergey Nikolin, co-founder of Product Air Heating, Cooling, and Electric. “People in certain areas that didn’t get affected the year before are seeing it for the first time. Last year the wind hit different places. This year it was Snohomish County. A lot of people were without power for multiple days.”
When the lights go out for that long, the impact goes far beyond inconvenience.
Why Western Washington Loses Power So Easily
Storms and outages aren’t unusual here. Western Washington’s geography plays a major role in why power goes down so often.
“If you look at the Puget Sound, air comes in from the ocean and gets channeled through the land,” Sergey explains. “That wind hits certain areas really hard.”
Add tall trees, saturated soil, and overhead power lines, and winter storms can quickly turn into widespread outages. Gusts knock trees into lines, transformers fail, and neighborhoods go dark.
What Most Homeowners Underestimate
When people think about power loss, they usually picture the lights turning off. What they don’t picture is what happens after 24, 48, or 72 hours.
“A lot of people were losing groceries in their fridges and freezers,” Sergey says. “Especially around here. Costco shoppers, big freezers in the garage. Everything melts. Everything spoils.”
For many families, that means throwing away thousands of dollars in food.
“We see people losing three to five thousand dollars just in groceries,” he says. “After a few storms like that, you realize you could have paid for a generator already.”
It’s Not Just Food
The longer the power stays out, the more systems inside a home start to suffer.
Without electricity, heating systems shut down. Cold air and moisture seep inside. Pipes can freeze and burst. In homes with septic systems, pumps stop working.
“People don’t think about septic,” Sergey says. “But those pumps need power. If it’s out for days, sewage can back up.”
Some homeowners rely on electricity for much more than comfort. Medical devices, computers for remote work, and health monitoring equipment all stop when power goes out.
“We have customers who are doctors on call,” Sergey says. “Their work depends on their computer. Some people have life-support devices. When power goes out, it can be serious.”
The Regret After the Storm
After the outages, Product Air saw a shift in how people were thinking.
“A lot of them are upset,” Sergey says. “They tell us, ‘I was planning to do it in the summer. I got too busy. Now I’m buying groceries again.’”
That frustration is becoming more common.
“They say, ‘Four years in a row now I’ve restocked my fridge. I could have bought two generators by now.’”
Backup Power Is No Longer a Luxury
For years, generators were viewed as something extra. Nice to have, but not necessary. That’s changing.
“There’s more education now,” Sergey says. “People understand how important it is and how possible it is.”
Financing has also made backup power more accessible.
“The upfront cost can be high, but now you can spread it over years,” he explains. “Some people use zero-APR financing and keep their money invested while still having backup power.”
At the same time, storms are getting stronger.
“We’ve been getting higher winds lately,” Sergey says. “Bigger storms than before.”
For many homeowners, backup power has shifted from a luxury to a part of basic planning.
What People Ask After an Outage
When homeowners call Product Air after a storm, the first question is usually simple.
“‘How soon can we do it?’” Sergey says.
After that, the real planning starts.
“We ask what they want powered. The fridge, some lights, maybe a heater. Then we calculate what size generator they need.”
Every home is different. That’s why Product Air does site visits instead of guessing.
One of the biggest surprises for homeowners is timing.
“A lot of the delay comes from the utility company,” Sergey explains. “They have to disconnect and reconnect power. Sometimes that takes two or three weeks.”
That’s why waiting until after the next storm isn’t always realistic.
Backup Power as Home Resilience
For people who live in rural areas or far from hospitals and city centers, outages often last longer.
“If you’re away from major infrastructure, you really need to plan for it,” Sergey says. “October and November bring high winds. We’ve seen a lot of damage in recent years.”
Backup power gives families something simple: stability.
“It’s like insurance,” he says. “You don’t have to leave. You’re comfortable in your own home. You have heat. You have power.”
That peace of mind is what most homeowners are really buying.
The One Lesson Sergey Hopes People Take Away
If the recent outages lead to one change, Sergey hopes it’s this:
“Have a little plan,” he says. “Even a small generator in your garage. Something to keep your fridge and a heater running.”
It doesn’t have to be complicated. For many people, keeping food cold and the house above freezing makes all the difference.
“People get most upset about losing their groceries,” he says. “A little generator can stop that.”
Preparedness is simply being ready for what Western Washington already knows is coming.
Need help planning your home’s backup power?
Product Air Heating, Cooling, and Electric provides backup power solutions for homeowners across Snohomish, King, Island, and Skagit counties, from portable generators to full-home systems.
Call (425) 344-3738 to schedule a consultation.