Tacoma Power sent 17 employees to Northern California yesterday to assist local power utilities in their efforts to restore service to customers in Humbodlt County.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said that weekend storms were the biggest to hit Humboldt County in 20 years. High winds and significant rainfall resulted in flooding, downed trees and loss of power for over 2,000 residents. Another storm is expected Tuesday.

Tacoma Power is providing four 4-person crews  which drove 550 miles on Monday to an area near Eureka, taking four bucket trucks, two derricks and four pickups with them.

Pacific Gas and Electric said it needs help from up to 50 crews from other western U.S. utilities. Utilities have agreements to provide assistance to those in neighboring states when natural disasters overwhelm local resources.