The City Opened Event Center to Those Affected By Cold and Outages

On Friday, Jan. 12, as the mercury was rapidly disappearing in the thermometers, what everyone was worried about…came to be. About 4 a.m. Mayor John Demarais received the first of several calls and text messages alerting him to their lack of power. The sheriff’s office also started receiving calls of the same issue.

Like it was routine work as mayor, Demarais started to make plans to get the residents of Malta into shelter where they would be safe from exposure to the extreme cold. Demarais placed a wake-up call to PWD Jim Truelove and within half an hour, the doors were opened at the former old armory to welcome those who were without heat. Immediately; the word was on social media that the doors were open, inviting those who were in need of a warm spot to sleep, advising them to bring their own bedding needs.

The area affected by the outage included homes and businesses on the north side of the railroad track, and areas west and south of Westside Self Service, including Green Acres.

Northwestern Energy was called and reaching the home office in Butte took a while as multitudes were calling to report the outage. The outage was not limited to Malta, as across the hi-line the communities were making similar emergency arrangements. In Glasgow, the Cavalry Baptist put out a similar message of invitation.

In an interview with Demarais, he said that no one used the Event Center, stating that people were concerned what would happen to their waterlines without heat, and didn’t feel comfortable with leaving their homes unattended given the frigid temperatures.

Demarais said, “We had to do something quickly. We need to have the availability to have something in place for emergencies like this. People can die from this. Quickly!”

Stating it was “just part of my job,” he continued, “the Event Center will continue to be open and available for emergencies like this. My phone (number) is plastered all over the place and you can print it in this article, to call if they need help!”

“Just to have the availability there helped a lot of people. I was nervous...what the heck, if I have to go outside and fall down? From my understanding, exposure is a reasonably easily complacent death...you go to sleep and don’t wake up again.”

“The Northwest Energy guy is a one man show. He’s just as good Bill (Granlund) as far as I can tell. “Electric Bill” was probably the best power man we ever had. You know, he knew where the weak spots were – if we called him and he was busy, he was always polite when he answered the phone; and we would tell him we were without sewer and water pumps off and he’d ask for how long, and we’d tell him about half an hour. Guess what, after about an hour, we had electricity again!”

“I think this Eric (current Northwest Energy electrician) is going to be just as good. He’s a young fella, but he’s a go-getter!”

Over the weekend the temperatures dipped as low as -45 degrees to -70 below with the chill factor.

In the meantime, Demarais was ill last week as he hosted Covid, and missed the City Council meeting on Tuesday. Friday evening he was at the local hospital undergoing medical care. He was then flown to Billings Clinic and underwent tests and on Monday morning was having a pacemaker procedure. He said their plans are to get out of the hospital on Tuesday, spend the night in Billings, and come home on Wednesday.

Northwest Energy was contacted for details of the outage and extent of trouble calls and provided information as to the length of the outage, being about two hours. Brandy Powers of the Butte office stated the outage was caused by a broken phase - the extreme cold had put pressure on the lines and causing the disruption in service. Across the state there were several service calls over the weekend. Powers said with the severe weather, crews are ready for outages. Malta has four circuits and this particular one, on the north side of the tracks is the one that was affected. NWE appreciates the understanding of it’s’ customers in times like this. They always work to keep the lights on.

In the 70’s the winter was as nasty as this weekend and the actual mercury registered -65 and one can only guess what the chill factor was. Cattle froze to death standing up; nature is hard on man and beast alike. It plays no favorites either.

Montana winters are harsh and unforgiving. South of Dodson a farmer got stuck in the snow and was overtaken by the extreme cold and died. At Saco two sisters became lost and disoriented and lost their lives on a deadly night.

A rancher south of Glasgow in a mean winter couldn’t get help quick enough and succumbed to the hands of death, the Search and Rescue Team risked their lives in the effort to get to him with snowdrifts that took an extensive team and machines to clear a path to his home. On a ranch in southeastern Montana, a blizzard in April drove 200 head of cattle into a coulee and they were covered and when the rancher went out after the storm to locate them, there was only one cow standing that had survived. The old rancher’s entire livelihood was in that herd of cattle and wiped out overnight. Alone on a ridge, the man took his own life, as his life was gone.

Winter in Montana is a killer, plain and simple as well as cruel and devastating. Use common sense, be prepared for incidents when the power goes out. Pack your vehicle as though your life depends on your safety planning…because you don’t know when it may. There is always the possibility it won’t be you that needs a blanket or extra gloves…you may come upon someone who is stranded that isn’t prepared.

Always let someone know when you are taking off and what time they should expect you. Carry a cell phone with you. I was thankful last March when I left the house and slipped on my entry step; with my cell in my hand I was able to call for help. Even as it was, I laid on the snow and ice long enough that my clothing was saturated. This winter I make sure I have my phone with me even when I step outside to start my car periodically.

Play it safe and smart. You’re too valuable to too many to not take care of yourself. Stay warm…the days of getting to wear sandals or run barefoot are coming soon.