STOCKTON, Calif. — The series of historic, atmospheric river storms that relentlessly pounded Northern California are still wreaking havoc for thousands of San Joaquin County residents.
Inside the Stockton home of Linda Pate, power is out and food in her freezer and refrigerator is going to waste.
"We stayed here a couple nights, but it was just too cold. When you're under the covers it's nice and warm, but when you get up, it's freezing," said Pate, who lives with her son.
Remnants of the storms' wrath can be seen everywhere. Some fallen trees still block some streets or are at rest in yards across Stockton.
In turn, several blocks near the city's historic Oak Park have been without power in some cases since New Year's Eve.
The Gil family has been using a generator, but it can only power two heaters or a heater and refrigerator at once.
"I'm not really too crazy about it. As long as we have food to eat and water to drink, it's all OK," said 15-year-old Jesus Ventura.
Just north of Stockton in Woodbridge, PG&E crews are replacing broken power poles destroyed by fallen trees, wind and rain.
More than 1,300 PG&E workers, along with crews from power company Southern California Edison, are working to reenergize lines to thousands in the Greater Stockton area without power.
"The storm just knocked down a line or something," said Woodbridge resident Robin Lish.
Lish said power to her Woodbridge home went out Monday night. Now, she uses candles for light and her barbecue grill to make coffee.
"I couldn't take a shower, but not so bad," said Lish, who has no hot water.
Her landlord Michelle Christ-Brandt owns nine properties in Woodbridge. She rents to mostly older tenants.
"Many of the tenants don't drive too many places, so they don't go in and out, in and out, but I am going to make a trip to the grocery store later today and make sure I've got something to do around so everybody has something in the cooler," said Christ-Brandt.
PG&E is hoping to have power back on for many residents in San Joaquin County by 8:00 p.m. tonight.
So far, PG&E said the power is back on for more than 468,000 customers.
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