January 18, 2020 7:20 a.m.
Crews with Pacific Power are making progress in restoring power to southern Oregon customers, following the recent damaging snow storm.
An update from the utility on Friday said 9,200 customers in the region remain without power. At the peak of the storm on Thursday, more than 18,000 customers had no power.
The release said downed trees and limbs strewn across a rugged landscape are complicating the work of more than 250 Pacific Power crew members and contractors working around the clock on more than 200 individual outages.  Restoration work has been challenging due to the large number of outages and how geographically dispersed they are. The release said especially in remote areas, Snowcats and other special equipment are needed to deal with the conditions. Some customers may remain without power through the weekend.
Grants Pass and surrounding areas are the hardest hit where 9,100 remain without power. Another 100 customers are out in Yreka and Mt. Shasta, California.
Pacific Power is working with the Red Cross and local emergency management to open shelters in areas experiencing extended outages. Shelters, where residents can get warm beverages and charge phones are at Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction and the Josephine County Fairgrounds in Grants Pass.
Customers can report outages by calling Pacific Power at 1-877-508-5088.