PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Many schools across Northern California looked like ghost towns on Monday as districts made the decision to keep students home during the latest round of PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
The decision to close schools left some parents in Placerville scrambling trying to find a babysitter.
Nicole Stay works in a clinic and told ABC10 they also closed for the day, which made it easier to take care of her second-grader. She said in case she gets called into work on Tuesday, she has a plan.
“My mom is local and she doesn’t work, so she is able to watch him,” Stay said.
Kristi Seccombe works at a school that was closed Monday. She told ABC10 she and her kids used their time off to get ready to be in the dark Monday night.
“We’re driving around the county trying to find ice and batteries in case we're out for another two or three days,” said Seccombe.
Ethan Coyan, 14, and his friends kept busy at The Bookery Used Book store on Main Street in Placerville.
The shop kept its doors open even though there was no power. Coyan said he and his friend have already missed a lot of school days because of the shutoffs. He knows those days off and especially the school work, will have to be made up.
“I would rather be in school with all my friends getting something done,” Coyan said.
High School Freshman Jacob Lubenko told ABC10 he is using the time off to focus on things that don’t require a computer or electricity.
“Just playing chess, reading more and playing the violin and all of that,” Lubenko said.
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