Wind warnings extended through 9 p.m.

MAT-SU — Strong wind gusts topping 80 mph toppled a semi this morning near Wasilla Lake. And blew another conex off its transport near Walmart on the Parks Highway in Wasilla.

The driver of the Lynden Transportation vehicle that blew over by Wasilla Lake was not injured.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning that continues through 9 p.m. for the Matanuska Valley communities of Palmer, Wasilla, Sutton and Chickaloon.

Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele said he showed up on scene of the toppled semi on his way into work this morning. While he was there he watched the wind wreak more havoc.

“As I was coming to work and was looking at that truck there's a pickup with a full camper in the bed of the truck that was coming through the intersection at Crusey (Street) and Parks (Highway) and the camper just flipped out of the bed of the truck from the strong winds,” Steele said.

He said it was the kind of camper a person can sleep in with a full door on the back. It landed on the side of the road.

Winds are expected to weaken Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Borough emergency services director Dennis Brodigan said his reading of the forecast tells him that the winds won't stop abruptly but will taper off.

“Heavy winds are going to stick with us through Friday they're just going to be diminishing every day,” he said.

He said that the borough has a crew that can, if needed, staff an emergency operations center on standby. So far the borough hasn't needed to open a center.

“We've been keeping in touch with (the Matanuska Electric Association) and the school district and other folks and there's just been no hue and cry yet,” Brodigan said. “We've got the Red Cross on ready alert to set up a shelter we just haven't pulled the trigger yet.”

He said he hopes he won't have to.

Over in Palmer, emergency responders report the usual wind-related activity; trashcans bouncing down the road, covers blowing off of airplanes at the airport.

Fire Chief John McNutt said crews have responded to a pair of downed power lines since the wind picked up Tuesday.

“We're actually out on a downed power line across the Glenn Highway,” he said shortly before 10 a.m.

Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright said several airplanes also were overturned at the Wasilla Airport by the high winds.

MEA reported a power outage in Palmer Tuesday morning that lasted about an hour. According the co-op's Facebook page, the outage also briefly took out the utility's phone and Internet systems.

As of Wednesday morning the cooperative was reporting 500 to 600 customers without power, spread from Trapper Creek to Sutton, but mostly concentrated along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway.

The borough sent out a e-mail Tuesday afternoon telling people about the wind warning and urging residents to double-check emergency supplies.

Recommended supplies and tips include:

• Alternative heating source

• If you have a generator, verify the fuel

• Check batteries for flashlights and radio

• Several gallons of drinking water

• Food

• Have a plan on where to go if your home is not warm.

Steele’s advice to residents was to just stay out of the wind as much as is feasible.

“If they don't have to be out in these conditions, stay home and be safe,” Steele said.

The Palmer Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday morning it was canceling that day’s meeting because of the wind and power outages.

Also, the Mat-Su Borough landfill is closed today due high winds.

Commander Tom Remaley with the Palmer Police department had the same low-level wind-related activity to report as McNutt.

“I haven't heard of anything big going down,” he said just after 10 a.m.

Professionally it hasn't caused him too much trouble, though it was kind of annoying to him personally.

“I couldn't sleep last night it was ripping all the shingles off my house,” the commander said.

The Mat-Su Borough has a hotline for updates during emergencies — 761-3700 — as well as a public affairs page www.matsugov.us/publicaffairs

For more information about the National Weather Service warning, visit http://www.arh.noaa.gov/zonefcst.php?zone=111.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiers-man.com or 352-2270. Contact Heather Resz at news@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.