Emergency Status
PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) (Information Only) 10-9-2019
What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff?
In order to keep communities safe, your local energy company may need to turn off power during extreme weather or wildfire conditions. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff or PSPS.
SMCCCD Office of Emergency Management PSPS Information Only. Our District has not received any notice of a PSPS.
Due to high wind advisory and red flag warnings, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) officials have been systematically shutting off power to about 250,000 Bay Area customers as a safety precaution. PG&E has stated that the power outages could affect an estimated 800,000 customers in Northern and Central California.
Here are some helpful tips to help you and your family survive a prolonged power outage:
• Unplug or turn off appliance, equipment and electronic to avoid damage caused by surges when the power is restored.
• Leave a single light switch on to alert you when power has been restored.
• Your refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours and a full freezer will keep its temperature for about 48 hours – as long as the doors remain closed.
• Be sure to use generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills outdoors only. Do not use a gas stove for heat.
• For food safety tips, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has a detailed list at their site: Food Safety During A Power Outage.
If you use candles for light:
• Always keep them where they are visible
• Never place them near anything that is flammable
• Keep them out of reach from small children
• Be sure to blow out any lit candles before going to sleep.
If you are storing extra fuel for generators or vehicles
• Store only in approved containers with proper seals to ensure no leaks.
• Keep fuel in well ventilated areas away from heat or direct sunlight.
How long will it take before power is restored?
Power will remain out for as long as extreme and dangerous weather conditions pose a potential fire risk. After a Public Safety Power Shutoff event, your energy company will inspect and repair power lines and equipment so that power can be safely restored.
Depending on the severity of the weather and other factors, power outages could last several hours or multiple days – so it’s important you and your family have an emergency plan in place.
Power Outage Resource Centers
To support customers in the affected areas, PG&E will open Community Resource Centers in several locations beginning on Wednesday, October 9, at 8 a.m. The centers will remain open during daylight hours only. Restrooms, bottled water, electronic-device charging and air-conditioned seating for up to 100 will be available at these facilities. Centers will be opened at the locations below:
• Lake County — Clear Lake — Clearlake Senior Center 3245 Bowers Avenue, Clearlake 95422
• Napa County — Napa — 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo 94589
• Napa County — Calistoga — Calistoga Fairgrounds – 1601 N. Oak Calistoga 94515
• Santa Clara — San Jose — Avaya Stadium 1123 Coleman Avenue, San Jose 95110
• Contra Costa — San Ramon — Bishop Ranch Parking Lot – 2600 Camino Ramon, San Ramon 94583
• San Mateo — Half Moon Bay — Pasta Moon Restaurant, 845 Main St Half Moon Bay 94019
• Solano — Vacaville — Mission Church 6391 Leisure Town Road, Vacaville 95687
• Sonoma — Santa Rosa — Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa 95404
• Alameda — Oakland Merritt College LOT B – Leona St., Oakland 94508
• Santa Cruz — Aptos — Twin Lakes Church 2701 Cabrillo College Dr, Aptos 95003
• Mendocino — Ukiah 1775 N. State Street, Ukiah 95482
Additional Preparedness Resources
• ready.gov – Disaster preparedness information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• readyforwildfire.org – CAL FIRE’s wildfire preparedness website
• cpuc.ca.gov/wildfireinfo – Information on the CPUC’s wildfire safety efforts
• caloes.ca.gov – California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services website
• cafiresafecouncil.org – California Fire Safe Council website
• noaa.gov – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website
• For more information on emergency notifications, visit caloes.ca.gov or for more on wireless emergency alerts, visit calalerts.org.
To learn more from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Visit pge.com/wildfiresafety | Phone: 1-866-743-6589