February 15, 2021 11:00 a.m.

Monday Governor Kate Brown responded to the continued severe winter weather and power outages across the Willamette Valley.

Brown said, “Last night’s weather continued to create widespread outages throughout the Willamette Valley, with more than 330,000 Oregonians without power, as of this morning”. Brown said while utility crews are making progress, the weather is leading to new outages faster than the pace of restoration, with the tri-county area now being the hardest hit.

Brown said, “Utilities in our region have never experienced such widespread outages, including during the September 2020 wildfires”. Brown said the state of emergency she declared on Saturday will ensure that all necessary state resources are available on the ground to help Oregonians impacted by the winter storm.

Brown thanked all local and state workers, first responders and utility crews who continued to work around the clock to clear roads, restore power and aid families in need. She said she is also grateful to work crews from other states who have stepped in to assist.