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Staying prepared when power is turned off during severe weather

With the increased wildfire threat that California is facing, PG&E (a natural gas and electric energy company) is enhancing and expanding efforts to reduce wildfire risks and keep customers and communities safe. This includes turning off power for safety if severe weather threatens the electric system, also known as a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).
 
The sole purpose of a PSPS is to reduce the risk of major wildfires during severe weather. While turning off power can prevent wildfires, it disrupts lives and can include risks for those who need power for medical equipment.
 
In order to prepare, think in advance about your family’s needs and how you might be impacted in the event of a power shutoff – or for any emergency.

Please consider:

  • Do you have a personal safety plan for all members of your family, including pets?
  • Do you have multiple evacuation routes planned?
  • If you own a backup power system, is it ready to operate safely?
  • Do you know how to open your garage door manually?
  • Are your mobile phones fully charged?
Here are some steps that PG&E is encouraging customers and community members to take: 
  • Update your contact information or contact preferences at pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 866.743.6589.
  • Plan for medical needs like medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power.
  • Keep a hard copy of emergency phone numbers on hand and know who to call in an emergency.
  • See if you qualify for the Medical Baseline program to receive important safety information and a break on your monthly energy bill at pge.com/medicalbaseline.
  • Build or restock your emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies and cash.
  • View additional safety tips for backup generators at pge.com/backupgeneration.
  • If you are not a PG&E customer, you can sign up for PSPS notifications by ZIP code at pge.com/pspszipcodealerts. 

To learn more about how you and your family can stay safe during a public safety outage or other emergency, visit safetyactioncenter.pge.com. You can learn more about PG&E’s wildfire prevention efforts at the link below.

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