PG&E Announces Possible Public Safety Power Shutoff - Half Moon Bay May Be Affected

From the City of Half Moon Bay California:

Posted on: October 7, 2019

PG&E Announces Possible Public Safety Power Shutoff - Half Moon Bay May be Affected

October 7, 2019 - PG&E has announced that a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff may take place as early as Wednesday morning due to potentially high fire danger in the vicinity of its power lines. This alert includes Half Moon Bay and the Coastside area.

October 7, 2019

PG&E Announces Possible Public Safety Power Shutoff - Half Moon Bay May be Affected

PG&E has announced that a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) may take place as early as Wednesday morning due to potentially high fire danger in the vicinity of its power lines. This alert includes Half Moon Bay and the Coastside area. Notably, PG&E meteorologists believe there is potential for a combination of high winds and low humidity across the Bay Area.

Please see PG&E's news release and map here. See PG&E's general PSPS information here.This does not necessarily mean that there will be particularly high fire danger within Half Moon Bay. However, because the electrical transmission lines serving the Coastside traverse the foothills and high fire hazard areas, PG&E has initiated the PSPS program as a caution.Please note that this is an early heads-up to our community, and the City is continuing to monitor the situation. We are in touch with State and local fire officials and PG&E to gain more information and we expect to have a better idea by noon tomorrow (Tuesday October 8) of the likelihood of a power shutoff. We will share that information as soon as it is available.The City is preparing for the possibility of the PSPS and is working closely with area agencies to limit the impacts and to preserve public health and safety. Residents should be aware that should the PSPS event occur, there will be disruptions to vehicle routes along the Coastside.In the meantime, it's important for residents and businesses to prepare for this or any other possible power outage. Some key preparation items include the following:

• Update your contact information at www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours. PG&E will use this information to alert customers through automated calls, texts, and emails, when possible, prior to, and during, a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
• Plan for medical needs like medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power.
• Identify backup charging methods for phones and keep hard copies of emergency numbers.
• Build or restock your emergency kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies, and cash.
• Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children, and pets.
• Sign up to receive local emergency alerts through SMC Alert
• Keep a battery-operated flashlight and radio within easy reach
• Do not use wax candles - use flashlights (or the safe LED "candles")
• Keep a standard handset or mobile phone available - don't depend on a phone that requires electricity to work
• Store water-filled plastic containers in your freezer to use as blocks of ice to prevent food from spoiling

In mid-2019, PG&E implemented its Public Safety Power Shutoff Program. Under certain conditions (gusty winds, dry environments, combined with a heightened fire risk) the utility can decide to shut off electricity in specified high-voltage power lines in order to reduce the risk of those lines igniting nearby vegetation. The program is in response to the major northern California wildfires of the last several years, some of which were determined to have been caused by power lines igniting vegetation. For more information please visit www.pge.com/psps.

This press release was produced by the City of Half Moon Bay California. The views expressed here are the author’s own.