February 15, 2021 4:00 a.m.

Sunday afternoon, Governor Kate Brown addressed the continued severe winter weather situation, which includes many power outages across the Willamette Valley.

Brown declared a state of emergency for a nine-county area on Saturday.

Brown said severe wind and ice conditions caused extensive damage to the electrical system, with utilities reporting thousands of downed power lines, as well as damage to transmission lines and substations. Brown said the situation was one of “…historic damage” with at least 200,000 Oregonians still without power, as of 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Brown said hundreds of utility personnel were expected to arrive from neighboring states Sunday night, to help repair the damage.

Some counties had severe weather shelters and warming spaces available Sunday evening.