Menlo Park: PG&E Power Shutoff Set To Begin Later Today

MENLO PARK, CA —Parts of Menlo Park may lose power in the PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff, or PSPS, set to hit San Mateo County at noon on Wednesday.

More than 14,000 county residents may lose power, the agency has said. The first phase of power outages started around midnight in the North Bay, with the noon shutoffs marking the next phase, according to PG&E.

Menlo Park's warning was issued out of an abundance of caution, the city said in a statement. No Menlo Park customers are in the area where PG&E currently plans to shut down power, but the city said residents should still be prepared for an outage.

The shutoffs come as strong, dry winds are set to hit the area, creating a fire risk. The outages could last longer than 48 hours, and the agency is recommending that households prepare for the possibility of several days without power.

Unless weather forecasts change, the shutoff will affect these San Mateo County cities: Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Woodside, Moss Beach, Montara, Portola Valley, Pescadero, La Honda, Redwood City, San Gregorio, Loma Mar, San Mateo, Menlo Park, Emerald Hills, Pacifica, Princeton. (View a statewide list at PG&E's website.)

Here's a map provided by PG&E of the potential outages in the area:

Here's how PG&E customers can prepare for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS):

• Update their contact information at 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.
• Review safety tips for backup generators if you plan to use one.
• Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children and pets. Information and tips including a safety plan checklist are available at pge.com/wildfiresafety.

During the outage, customers should:

• Keep freezers and refrigerators closed
• ·Monitor freezer and refrigerator temperatures with a thermometer.
• Use perishable food supplies first.· Use generators, stoves and grills outdoors away from windows.
• Disconnect electronics and appliances to avoid damage from electrical surges.
• Check on neighbors, animals and family.
• Drive safely and slowly as traffic signals may not be functioning properly.