As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, PG&E is reporting that it has restored power to approximately 75,000 customers in Humboldt County. Weather conditions yesterday allowed the utility to fly and visually check the transmission lines that were affected as a result of the planned Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that originated in another county. After the inspection was complete yesterday, PG&E took its next steps to restore power to residents in Humboldt County.
PG&E is operating a Customer Resource Center at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds today and it will be open until 8 p.m. The CRC is expected to have air conditioning, water and power stations for community residents to charge medical and other devices. PG&E is no longer planning to open a CRC at College of the Redwoods as previously reported.
To learn more about power outages, Customer Resource Centers, or restoration, call PG&E at 1-877-9000-PGE, or visit PG&E’s website at the following links, which have been updated to handle high traffic volume:
Please do not contact 911 for information about the outage. Use 911 only for emergencies.
Roads
While traffic signals are coming back on line, some may still be flashing or completely off. Use caution when driving on roadways. Slow down and if you encounter an intersection that is flashing or not functioning, treat it as a four-way stop. Stop, look both ways and proceed when safe.
Food Safety
After a power outage, some food may not be safe to eat and must be thrown out. It is important that you take steps to prevent illness from potentially unsafe food and water after power is restored. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidance that will help you make these important decisions.
In general, when in doubt, throw it out! Throw away any food or other items requiring refrigeration such as medicine that have been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
Many county functions that were suspended during the outage are back to full operations today. County employees who have not reported to work already should contact their supervisors for their work assignments today.
Many schools and businesses have been impacted by PG&E’s power shutoff. Check with your child’s school district or follow the Humboldt County Office of Education on Facebook for information about school closures.
“While this power outage had real impacts, especially for those who rely on power for medical equipment, this is also a good reminder that we as a community need to be prepared for emergencies,” said Sheriff William Honsal. “These power shutoffs may become the new normal for Humboldt County and the entire state. And we are always at risk for earthquakes and other natural disasters. Take some time and make sure you and your family are ready.”
The following links provide information on what you can do to prepare for the next emergency.
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For the most recent information, follow Sheriff’s OES on facebook. facebook.com/HumboldtCountyOES