David, it almost sounds like you are up in Alaska or some far out place like that...
It is amazing: we have frequent winds in excess of 50 to 70 mph most winters, but the power rarely goes out. When it does, people comment on the utility's facebook page (a local electric co-op). The crews get out, get the tree off the lines, and power is up again. All in the subzero Alaska temps.
When I did a CME in Seattle last month they were alerting for 'high' winds of 25 mph and the power went off about 5 times before finally leaving us completely in the dark in our lecture hall for the rest of the day.
