Summer Project? Call Before You Dig
If your summer to-do list includes digging a hole or a ditch, call 811 before you work. It’s the best way to avoid unintentionally striking underground utility lines, which can cause physical harm, outages, and fines. Plan to call at least 2 business days in advance to give utilities time to mark the approximate location of their lines, so you know where to dig safely.
Here are a few examples of when to call 811:
- Installing a fence
- Excavating a new garden area
- Building a patio or deck
- Planting trees or shrubbery
Wildfire Season is Here. How You Can Prepare:
As we enter the heat of summer, it is time to prepare for 1 of our region’s most significant challenges-wildfire season. While Skamania PUD crews are hard at work to prepare, here are tips on how you can prepare:
- If you depend on power for medical equipment, develop a backup plan to meet your needs during a potential outage.
- Protect your home by cleaning vegetation from your property
- Assemble an emergency kit with essentials to sustain your household during extended outages.
- Ensure your contact information is current in Smarthub so we can reach you with important notifications.
- Consider filling water tanks to provide for your household and pets.
- Stay informed through our outage notification system and other local emergency services. Sign up for Skamania Emergency Alerts.
- Be prepared to implement your family’s emergency plan if conditions worsen.
Work & Play Safely Around Power Lines This Summer
With Summer in full swing, we want to take a moment to remind our customers about the importance of working and playing safely around power lines. From backyard projects to outdoor fun, it is easy to overlook the hazards that power lines can present. At Skamania PUD, your safety is our priority. Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe all season long.
Work Safely:
Look up and around. Always be aware of the location of the power lines.
When working near power lines attached to your house, keep equipment and yourself at least 10 feet from the lines.
Never trim trees near power lines. If you see a tree too near the power lines, call us to report.
Never climb a utility pole and never attach anything to a utility pole.
Remember, electricity and water never mix! If it is raining or the ground is wet, avoid using electric yard tools.
Play Safely:
Stay away from power lines. Always assume they are “live and dangerous”.
Never climb trees near power lines.
Never touch outdoor wires with any part of your body or other objects.
Fly kites, model airplanes, or drones in large open spaces like a park or a field, safely away from trees and power lines. If a kite gets stuck in a tree that is near a power line, do not climb up to get it.
Bringing Safety to the Classroom
Members of the Skamania PUD crew visited Carson Elementary School on May 21 to present important safety information to all 5th- and 6th-grade students. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the next generation of our community, and we hope the lessons they learned will stay with them and make their way home to their families as well. We are proud to serve Skamania County and look forward to continuing to engage with our community in meaningful ways.
Upcoming Events & Exciting Announcements
National Night Out – August 4, 2026
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police - community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Visit our booth for an ice cream treat and chat with our team about what happens at your PUD.
Skamania County Fair & Timber Carnival – August 12 through 15,2026
Stop by the Information Booth and say ‘Hi’ on Friday, August 14th, and look for our float in the Annual Downtown Parade.
PUD Customer Appreciation Event – October 6, 2026
Join us for a free hot dog meal as we say thank you to our community, 4 p.m. through 6 p.m. at the PUD.
Thank You for Reading
We appreciate you taking the time to stay informed about summer safety and preparedness in our community. Together, we can keep Skamania County safe and resilient all season long.