Power Outages Possible In North Bay With Incoming Storm: PG&E

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A cold front with moderate to heavy rain showers is expected by sunrise Thursday in Marin County and the North Bay, according to PG&E meteorologists. Crews for the utility company are gearing up to respond to outages safely and as quickly as possible, a spokeswoman for the utility company said.

"That means it's all-hands on deck tonight and tomorrow with employees and equipment ready to roll in the event of an outage," PG&E's North Bay Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said.

PG&E is asking residents to be prepared for the inclement weather, which may bring unexpected power outages.

"An impactful winter storm is on the way and we're asking customers to have a plan to keep themselves and their families safe," PG&E senior meteorologist Evan Duffey said. "Our team of meteorologists is closely tracking the weather system and working with our employees in the field to stage resources and ensure we’re prepared to restore power safely and quickly."

Wind, rain and mountain snow were forecast to arrive in Northern California and the North Bay Wednesday afternoon and last into Thursday — and possibly even over the weekend and into next week, according to PG&E meteorologists.

Here's the forecast from the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area:

"A cold front will bring widespread rainfall from late Wednesday night through Thursday as it moves from north to south across the region. Breezy and locally gusty southerly winds will develop out head of the cold front with the strongest likely along the coast and in the region’s higher elevations. The heaviest rainfall will move across the greater San Francisco Bay Area during the morning commute with lingering showers possible into the afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible Thursday afternoon and evening as a colder, more unstable air mass moves overhead."

PG&E personnel are closely tracking the weather system and mobilizing crews and materials into areas expected to feel the brunt of the storm, so they can get to work and restore service to impacted customers more quickly, Contreras said.

PG&E’s meteorology team has developed a Storm Outage Prediction Model that incorporates real-time weather forecasts, historical data and system knowledge to accurately show where and when storm impacts will be most severe.

"This model enables the company to pre-stage crews and equipment as storms approach to enable rapid response to outages," Contreras said.

Here are some storm safety tips from PG&E:

• Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911 and by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
• Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, pets and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
• Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup.
• Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.
• Secure outdoor furniture: Deck furniture, lightweight yard structures and decorative lawn items should be secured as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines or property.
• Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on power lines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
• Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
• Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 811 or visit 811express.com at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.

By Maggie Fusek/Patch