When the blackout hits: PG&E preaches preparation in event of extended fire-season outage

Record (Stockton, CA)

STOCKTON -- Should Stockton-area residents rush out and buy a generator or dust off the one they have in the garage this fire season?

Are power outages imminent?

Though the Central Valley is at zero risk of wildfires like those that have devastated the state in recent years, there would be a trickle-down effect if Pacific Gas and Electric Co. shuts down electricity distribution centers in high-risk areas. Residents and businesses whose transmission lines originate from a distribution center that is shut down would be without power until crews inspect the de-energized lines and deem them safe, which could take days even after weather conditions improve.

Dylan George, a public affairs representative with PG&E, explained the company's Community Wildfire Safety Program and officials with the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services and from the Stockton fire and police departments urged customers at a town-hall meeting Tuesday at Brookside Country Club to be prepared in the event of an extended power outage.

"A red flag warning is PG&E's first cue to get our emergency apparatus up and running," George said. "We won't always have a public safety power outage event with every red flag warning. It will depend on specific conditions and events."

George said low humidity, dry fuel conditions and high winds drive wildfires and are more likely to coincide later in the fire season, particularly in the fall months, until the first major rainstorm.

George said a city the size of Stockton likely would not experience a total blackout or a power outage lasting more than three to five days. But it doesn't hurt to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Among the tips provided by PG&E, SJCOES and the police and fire departments:

• Use generators only outdoors and away from windows and ensure they are ready to operate safely.

• Have a basic first aid kit and medications and eyeglasses.

• Stock one gallon of drinking water per person, per day.

• Include nonperishable food that is easy to prepare without power.

• Have flashlights, extra batteries, portable chargers and a battery-powered radio.

• Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges.

Last year, state regulators approved allowing utilities to shut off power when fire risk is extremely high in the wake of several wildfires blamed on the nation's largest utility -- fires that scorched thousands of acres, destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses and took dozens of lives. According to the New York Times, five of the 10 most destructive fires in California since 2015 have been linked to PG&E's electrical network and regulators have found that in many fires, PG&E violated state law or could have done more to make its equipment safer.

George said PG&E has installed more weather forecasting stations and cameras in high-risk areas. He said the company's goal is to send outage alerts at 48 hours, 24 hours and just prior to shutting off power through automated calls, texts and emails. Customers should ensure their contact information is up to date by calling PG&E at (866) 743-6589 or going to pge.com.

Information: prepareforpowerdown.com, sjready.gov.

Contact reporter Bob Highfill at (209) 546-8277 or jhighfill@recordnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @bobhighfill.

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