WINTERS, Calif. — PG&E announced Friday it’s looking to possibly shut power off this weekend to thousands of customers in dozens of Northern California communities. It’s part of PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoff plan, to help avoid sparking wildfires.
PG&E equipment is blamed for causing the Camp Fire – California’s deadliest wildfire – in November 2018. Now, ahead of “red flag,” fire-favorable weather conditions – hot, dry and windy – PG&E’s plan includes shutting off power to communities in impacted areas.
Because this year’s expanded shutoff plan involves cutting power to the big transmission lines – instead of just the smaller distribution lines involved in last year’s power shutoff plan – more communities will be impacted by shutoffs this year, even ones not directly in fire danger zones.
RELATED: Q&A on PG&E power shutoff plan
Winters is on the list of communities that will be possibly impacted this weekend. Yolo County shared a map Friday night of the expected shutoff area. Downtown Winters is not on that map, but many people who work in town live out in the possibly affected area, which is just to the west of town.
Earlier Friday, however, people didn’t know exactly where in the Winters area those shutoffs would take place.
ABC10 stopped by Lorenzo’s Town & Country Market in Winters, where store manager Jessica Bolanos was preparing for possible shutoffs.
"We're definitely getting with our refrigeration company, making sure that our backup generators are fully operating, ready to go,” she said early Friday evening.
Lorenzo’s Market can handle a power shutoff, she said, but there is a limit, and PG&E has said their new plan could cut power to communities for days.
"That's one thing that we're worried about, is if they do shut down the whole line, how long is it going to be down?” Bolanos wondered. “Because our generators are old. We did get a new one a couple of years ago, but, still, like, how long?"
Shopper Marcelino Medina says the shutoffs worry him.
"A lot of people are going to be suffering from the heat. Refrigerators are going to lose power unless they have a generator,” Medina said. "Think about all the people who are going to be unhappy."
Bolanos is facing that. She's preparing for power outages not only at work but also at her home nearby.
"I know at home I'm stocking up on water bottles - the five-gallons - and then lots of candles,” she said. “I already told my kid, 'Dig out the board games, all the card games, no TV possibly.’"
PG&E recommends people facing power shutoffs plan for medical needs – including medicines that need refrigeration and electronic medical devices. It also encourages people to have on-hand an emergency supply kit with food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash. They also suggest having backup charging methods for phones and learning how to manually open your garage door. If you own a backup generator, make sure it’s ready to safely operate.
More power shutoff preparedness tips are HERE.
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