SDG&E IS PREPARED FOR SANTA ANA WINDS, WARNS 1,000 BACKCOUNTRY CUSTOMERS OF POTENTIAL SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS

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October 21 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s backcountry is expected to experience Santa Ana winds Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 20-22), winds expected to peak on Monday in the 30-40 miles per hour range.  The utility has warned 1,032 customers that it may need to turn off power for safety in these communities:

  • Boulder Creek
  • Boulevard
  • Cameron
  • Crestwood
  • La Posta
  • Valley Center East
  • Viejas

(A map of the areas that could potentially be affected is posted at sdge.com/ready.)

SDG&E’s meteorology team is closely monitoring the weather as windy conditions can elevate fire risk in the backcountry. According to the company’s website,  SDG&E has notified customers Sunday via multiple channels: outbound dialer calls, text messages, and emails.

While about 1,000 customers were notified, it does not mean all of these customers will have their power turned off. Weather conditions are dynamic and depending on how they materialize, some of these customers may or may not have their power turned off, the utility advises.

As weather trends become more certain, SDG&E will provide updated notifications to customers within 24 hours of an anticipated public safety power shutoff and then again within 1-4 hours of a shutoff, if possible.

Customers who have received alerts from us are encouraged to activate their personal emergency preparedness plan and have emergency supplies on hand, including water, food, flashlights, extra batteries, and battery packs for their smart phones.

Sign Up for Notifications

Everyone is encouraged to sign up to receive alerts from SDG&E at sdge.com/notifications so they can stay up to date on potential public safety power shutoffs.

If you have a loved one living in an area that could potentially be affected and you are not an SDG&E account holder, you can still sign up for notifications by ZIP code.

SDG&E's Preparations Ahead of Santa Ana Wind Event

In preparation for the potential fire danger associated with the Santa Ana winds, SDG&E says it is prepared to activate our Emergency Operations Center starting Sunday and will staff the EOC around the clock. Non-essential electrical maintenance work in fire-prone areas has been canceled. The company has also pre-staged resources, such as contract firefighters, and field personnel to troubleshoot and coordinate emergency response. Its aerial firefighting resources, including our helitanker (SkyMaverick) and Blackhawk, are ready to go from their base at Gillespie if called upon by CALFIRE.

 


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