The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: humboldt power outages

  • PG&E Prepares for Possible Storm Outages

    PG&E Prepares for Possible Storm Outages

    Winter storm moving in Wednesday evening may cause power outages

    Residents of Humboldt, Mendocino and Lake Counties should prepare for possible power outages during the winter storm rolling in Wednesday evening, according to a press release from Pacific Gas and Electric.

    “PG&E meteorologists are expecting the cold front to move into Humboldt County tonight and will work southward into Mendocino and Lake Counties,” PG&E Spokesperson Deanna Contreras said in a press release sent to The Lumberjack. “We are expecting power outages due to wind and rain and also on Thursday due to snow accumulation in the upper elevations.”

    The release said PG&E will mobilize crews to remain on-call throughout Wednesday night to respond to any outages. The release also noted that PG&E plans to activate its Operations Emergency Centers.

    The release went on to provide a number of safety tips during the storm, which is forecasted to last at least into Thursday, with “unsettled weather” possibly lasting into next week.

    Tips included not touching downed wires, avoiding the use of candles and turning off appliances to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. See the press release copied below for the full list of tips.

    PG&E Alerts Customers: Have a Plan for Cold, Wet and Windy Weather

    Potential Outages Are Possible Due to Approaching Weather

    EUREKA / UKIAH / CLEARLAKE, Calif.—With unsettled weather expected to return to its service area this week, PG&E is asking customers to have a plan for inclement weather and be prepared for unexpected power outages.

    PG&E meteorologists are forecasting a change in the weather pattern over Northern and Central California later this week. The most impactful storm of this pattern will start on Wednesday afternoon with wind, rain and mountain snow and last into Thursday. Unsettled weather may continue over the weekend and into the following week.

    “An impactful winter storm is on the way and we’re asking customers to have a plan to keep themselves and their families safe. 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,” said PG&E senior meteorologist Evan Duffey.

    PG&E is closely tracking the weather system and will be 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.

    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.

    Storm Safety Tips:

    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.

    Other tips and more information can be found at www.pge.com/weather.

  • HSU Students Cope With Power Outages

    HSU Students Cope With Power Outages

    While students enjoy the time off of classes, outages act as wake up for emergency preparedness

    Humboldt State University students are coping with the mass power outages that hit Humboldt just after midnight.

    Kinesiology freshman Malik Bobino, who sat in the afternoon sun by the library circle, spent the day hiking. Nevertheless, Bobino said the outage was stressful. 

    “It’s just dead,” Bobino said of campus. “It’s like Mad Max.”

    Bobino said that campus Wi-Fi is largely off, although he has been able to get signals in a few small areas. 

    Zoology freshman Jeanette Carini said she has mostly lounged around in the dorms. 

    “I slept a lot because there wasn’t much to do,” Carini said.

    The view of Humboldt State University from 14th Street. | File photo by Lauren Shea

    While Carini spent time catching up on lost sleep, Wildlife freshman Max Manson said the time off school is relieving.

    “It’s nice not having classes today,” Manson said.

    However, Manson also confirmed that, aside from the door keycard locks, all power to the dorms it shut off. Hot water is not available in the dorms, as electric water heaters are off as well. 

    Manson and Carini both noted that food has been hard to come by, as the lines to the J stretch out the doors and down the stairs. 

    As the PG&E outage affecting over 800,000 California customers enters its first official night, no definite date is set for the return of electricity. 

    HSU student Max Blaettler said they slept in until 3 p.m. and went to the J at 4 p.m., where they enjoyed a free barbecue dinner. 

    “It was alright,” Blaettler said. “And it was free.”

    As the PG&E outage affecting over 800,000 California customers enters its first official night, no definite date is set for the return of electricity. 

    However, reporting by Lost Coast Outpost has suggested that power could return as early as tomorrow, if high winds die down and PG&E finds no damage to transmission lines. 

    At HSU, students said they have already learned prepare better for next time. 

    “Next time we’ll stock up,” Manson said. 

    “Definitely have supplies,” Bobino said. “Like back-up chargers.”

  • PG&E to Shut Off Power for Up to 5 Days

    PG&E to Shut Off Power for Up to 5 Days

    Humboldt County residents prepare for a power outage

    A power outage will hit Humboldt County as soon as midnight, and may last as long as five days according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services.

    PG&E notified OES today that parts of Humboldt County may see power shutoffs as a result of transmission line shutoffs in California’s Central Valley, due to high winds raising the risk of wildfires.

    OES Public Information Officer Meriah Miracle said Humboldt County residents should prepare for an outage.

    “Humboldt County should expect power outages as soon as midnight,” Miracle said. “PG&E has not given a time frame yet, but it could be as long as five days.”

    Miracle added that PG&E is currently looking into using the local King Salmon power plant to offset any shutoffs. At 4 p.m., Miracle expected an update from PG&E over the following couple hours.

    According to a Humboldt County press release, OES is working with response partners and has notified local health services.

    “Humboldt County should expect power outages as soon as midnight. PG&E has not given a time frame yet, but it could be as long as five days.”

    Meriah Miracle, Office of Emergency Services Public Information Officer

    Humboldt State University has posted a statement on their website promising further information when available, including whether classes will be cancelled. The statement urged students to charge phones and critical electronics.

    Miracle said residents should follow normal emergency preparedness procedures.

    “OES is urging residents to prepare just like they would for any other events,” Miracle said.

    For more information, multiple press released are posted below.

    A message sent out to some PG&E customers today:

    Dear Valued Customer,

    To protect public safety, PG&E may turn off your power overnight. Power will remain off until weather conditions improve and it is safe to restore service. To view a list of your impacted locations visit pgepsps.com.

    Here is what you need to know:

    Please have your emergency plan ready.

    If you have a backup generator, please do a safety check and make sure you have enough fuel to last a few days. Generator safety tips can be found here. Power will remain off until weather conditions improve and it is safe to restore service. We will continue to monitor conditions and will contact you with further updates. In most cases, we would expect to be able to restore power within 24 to 48 hours after weather has passed. Depending on weather conditions or if any repairs are needed, outages (weather event plus restoration time) could last longer than 48 hours. For planning purposes, we suggest preparing for multiple-day outages. If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous and report it immediately by calling 911.

    For more information, including regular updates, visit pge.com or call 1-800-743-5002.

    Thank you,

    Pacific Gas and Electric Company

    From the Humboldt County website:

    Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (Sheriff’s OES) is preparing for the potential shutdown of PG&E power to areas of Humboldt County. On Tuesday, Oct. 8, PG&E notified the county that it may activate Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) protocols in neighboring counties due to extreme weather. Transmission lines that power Humboldt County could be affected as a result of a shutdown in another county. The shutdown could impact parts of Humboldt County within the next 24 hours.

    Humboldt County is ready to respond to the effects of the power outage; however, the decision to turn off the power and the speed at which it is restored is managed solely by PG&E. The utility is working on a solution to generate power locally at its King Salmon power plant that would help offset the effects of any shutoff.

    Sheriff’s OES has taken steps in preparation for a potential power shutdown after being notified by PG&E of their new PSPS program earlier this year. OES is currently operating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and is actively coordinating with our operational area response partners and monitoring the situation.


    Sheriff’s OES has notified community partners including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, Humboldt Senior Resource Center, PACE, Open Door Community Health Centers and other critical service providers in the county. Adult Protective Services staff are working on contingency plans to protect the most vulnerable. Local emergency services including 911 dispatch have backup power and should remain active in the event of a power shutoff.

    Learn more about PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs and sign up for PSPS alerts at prepareforpowerdown.com or call 1-877-9000-PGE. PG&E is monitoring weather patterns and will provide updates to customers and Humboldt County when information is available.

    Sign up for Humboldt ALERT at humboldtgov.org/alerts to receive safety information and be informed of imminent threats to personal safety or property, tailored to an address of your choosing.
    To receive updated information from PG&E, update your contact information at prepareforpowerdown.com.
    Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.
    Many medications are still usable for two to three days at room temperature, including insulin, which can keep for 28 to 30 days. However, if you are in doubt, please be sure to check with your medical provider.
    Review the supplies that are available in case of a power outage. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Have enough nonperishable food and water.
    Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
    Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged and gas tanks full.
    Know how to manually open electric garage doors and gates.

    For more information, including what to do during a power outage, visit prepareforpowerdown.com.