The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory. The gusty wins can cause unplanned power outages by knocking down power lines, trees, or debris, disrupting electrical service. To prepare for a potential power shutoff in your area, here are key steps to take:
- Have a back-up charging system for cell phones and keep devices fully charged at all times.
- Test your battery-powered radios and flashlights.
- Consider alternate power generation choices for your home or critical business systems. Be sure to follow all safety instructions for stand-alone power generators. See Portable Generator Safety Tips for more information.
- Keep vehicle gas tanks full (gas pumps may be without power) and electric vehicles fully charged and park it outside. Familiarize yourself with how to manually open the garage door.
- Identify a place you can go to, if necessary.
- Keep some cash on hand (credit/debit stations and ATMs may be without power).
- Check and update your go bag and emergency kit and supplies (include hard copies of critical information and life-saving prescriptions). Review the supplies that are needed in case of a power outage including flashlights, extra batteries food and water for every household member.
- Reach out to neighbors who may need assistance and help them prepare.
- While the County of Sonoma will not issue an evacuation notice for a power outage, the weather forecast includes high fire danger. Sign up to receive evacuation notices at SoCoAlert.com.
The County of Sonoma is prepared for potential power outages or planned power shut downs to areas of Sonoma County. While the County of Sonoma is ready to respond to the effects of the power outage, the decision to turn off the power and the speed at which it is restored is planned and managed solely by the energy provider.
FAQs for Power Outages
Public water and sewer systems are supported by back-up generators and diesel pumps and are not anticipated to be affected by power shutoffs. Residents with private wells, private water pumps, and/or a private sewer grinder/booster pumps may be affected if they do not have a back-up power supply
If you are a PG&E customer, they will use the contact information associated with your account to reach you. Please take a moment to verify your contact information with PG&E.
Be sure to also register for Nixle and SoCoAlert, systems the County of Sonoma and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office will utilize to notify you of life safety emergencies in your area. To register, visit Sign up for Alerts.
The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers supports local Independent Living Centers (ILCs) in providing resources to those who need them most. Engage with your local ILC on potential disaster or emergency resources by visiting disabilitydisasteraccess.org
If you are a Medical Baseline customer who has questions or need to register as a medical baseline, contact PG&E at 1-(800)-743-5000.
Disability Services & Legal Center (DSLC) is able to provide back up batteries that last 48 hours, and other services to assist individuals and seniors with a disability who are on MediCal. For additional information, contact Juan Orantes at (707)-636-3065 or jorantes@mydslc.org and visit mydslc.org.
For a current list of roads closures or delays in the unincorporated county visit this website: https://roadclosures-sonomacounty.hub.arcgis.com/
To determine if local schools are closed as a result of the PG&E power shutoffs, please see this Sonoma County Office of Education webpage: https://www.scoe.org/storm-update.html
In order for PG&E to restore power after a PG&E power shutoff event, first the utility is required to inspect the lines to determine if they have been damaged in the course of the shutoff. To accomplish this, PG&E uses helicopters and ground teams. The time to inspect the lines can vary, but in most cases, power will be restored within 12 daylight hours after severe weather has passed. To view the latest outage map visit: https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/updates/
As defined by the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning means any combination of warm temperatures, very low humidities, dry fuels, the possibility of dry lightning strikes and strong winds that are expected to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
If your electricity has been shut down due to a PG&E power shutoff, PG&E has opted to preemptively shut off electrical transmission along power lines that the utility has deemed to be unsafe due to current weather conditions.
A Public Safety Power Shutoff is the name that the utility Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) uses to describe a proactive shutoff of electricity. PG&E may declare a PG&E power shutoff if some of the following weather conditions exist:
- A Red Flag Warning
- Low humidity levels
- Forecasted sustained winds generally above 25 miles per hour and wind gusts in excess of approximately 45 miles per hour
- Dry fuel conditions