Fire Conditions Force PG&E to Cut Power to Customers
Pacific Gas and Electric Company has cut off power to a reported 800,000 customers because of critical fire conditions in Northern California. The shutoffs began Wednesday morning and have affected 30 counties so far. The counties affected include those in the Sacramento Valley, North Bay, and Bay areas and sections of the Sierra Nevada and foothill areas. Sacramento is not expected to be included in the power cut-offs. A news release by PG&E was updated recently, saying that parts of 34 coastal, central, and northern counties are affected for now. Other affected counties include Kern, Humboldt, Trinity, and Marin.
Weather Conditions
The risk of wildfires is significantly increased because of low humidity, aridness in the areas, and wind. On October 8, the National Weather Service issued warnings for most of Northern California because of the fire conditions, including the Sacramento Valley. While winds in many areas will be from 15 mph to 25 mph, gusts can range from 35 mph to more than 45 mph. This combination of low humidity, poor overnight recovery, and wind contribute to the concern over fire conditions.
Power Restoration Will Take Additional Time
The senior vice president of electrical operations for PG&E, Michael Lewis, reported that power might take several days to fully restore once the risk of adverse fire conditions leaves the area while safety inspections are conducted. The dangerous weather that could lead to a wildfire will last until sometime next week. The company emphasized that fully restoring power requires inspecting the distribution and transmission lines in areas where the power was shut down. Because of the large shutdown and inspections, some clients of PG&E might have to go several days or more without power.
Impacted Counties
The electric company said power would be shut down for 5,791 customers in Yolo County on Wednesday due to the fire conditions. Others affected include 66,289 clients in Sonoma County, 51,641 in Placer County, and 51,284 in El Dorado County. Customers may also be affected in Alameda, Contra Costa, Nevada, Santa Cruz, Tuolumne, Butte, Napa, Santa Clara, and Solano counties. Some cities affected by the shutdown include Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Chico, Redding, Vacaville, and Fairfield. A complete list of affected towns and cities can be found here.
Accidents May Escalate
The number of all types of accidents may escalate in the affected areas. Without electricity, traffic and street lights will be dark in many areas. People who use their vehicles for work must exert the greatest care when driving in daylight and at night. Pedestrians should bring flashlights and wear reflective clothing if possible, so they will be seen on darkened streets. The same goes for bicyclists. Residents who need the assistance of medical devices powered by electricity should speak with their physician.
Be Proactive
There are numerous ways a population dependent on electricity will be affected, and the best way to deal with the shutoff is to be proactive. Being prepared for a power outage is essential for families to stay safe. It includes water, food, first aid supplies, and alternate lighting sources such as flashlights or battery-powered lanterns. You can look at our list of emergency supplies you might want to add here.
Liability in an Accident Caused by a Loss of Electricity
Whether or not electricity is present, everyone must be cognizant of others about you. Drivers may face many circumstances they do not ordinarily have to deal with, such as the loss of traffic signals and street lights. Because of this, they need to treat any intersection as a four-way stop and be on guard for pedestrians and cyclists in their path. The circumstances surrounding an accident do not absolve drivers of their need to behave prudently. If an accident does occur, the at-fault driver can be held responsible for damages.
What an Attorney Can Do to Help
If an accident happens, you need the insight an injury attorney can provide. At our firm, we dispatch our investigative team to the accident site to gather evidence of negligence on the part of the at-fault driver. We review police reports and interview witnesses. Once the information is gathered, we release it to our legal team to use as they build a strong case in our client’s favor.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. If you are involved in an accident, you need the help an experienced lawyer can provide to obtain the damages you deserve. For free and friendly advice, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also reach out to me online.
I have helped my clients obtain the compensation they deserve in all varieties of car accidents, wrongful deaths, and other traumatic injuries.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/electric-pole-the-sky-at-sunset-2773900/
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