Strong winds and soaring temperatures are prompting power shutoffs across wildfire-prone areas of Southern California.
As of Wednesday morning, Southern California Edison has initiated Public Safety Power Shutoffs to more than 2,000 customers in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are a “measure of last resort,” and are triggered when conditions are ripe for wildfire, including a red flag warning by the National Weather Service, extremely low humidity levels, forecasted sustained winds above 25mph, and high wind gusts.
Both a red flag warning for parts of southern California and heat advisories for Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange counties, and the Inland Empire have been issued until Wednesday evening, as reported by KTLA.
The National Weather Service at approximately 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, issued a red flag warning for the western San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, and southeastern Ventura County valleys due to gusty Santa Ana Winds and very low humidity.
“A period of gusty Santa Ana winds combined with very warm and very dry conditions will likely bring critical fire weather conditions to portions of Southwest California,” said the National Weather Service.
Northeast winds are expected to reach 15 to 25 mph and gusts at 30 to 40 mph, with the strongest winds arrivig through Wednesday morning, according to the alert. Minimum humidity is predicted to fall to 5 to 10% by Wednesday.
The National Weather Service warns, “If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior, rapid fire growth, and long-range spotting, which could threaten life and property.”
The red flag warning will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
How to prepare for a power outage
There are many things Californians can do to prepare for a power outage. Public safety officials suggest keeping your home stocked with:
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Nonperishable food (enough for several days)
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One gallon of water per person per day
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Flashlights and extra batteries
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Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
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Medications and medical supplies
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Warm blankets or sleeping bags
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Cash (ATMs and card readers may not work during outages)
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Charged power banks for phones and devices
If you haven’t already, prepare an emergency kit or “go-bag.” The federal website www.ready.gov walks you through what to include for you and your family—including seniors, children, and pets.
Also consider preparing a Vial of Life, which includes your health history, medications, and special instructions. Place it in a visible location like your refrigerator so emergency responders can access it quickly.
What about portable generators?
Portable generators can be useful during outages, but they pose safety risks and can be disruptive. Connecting a generator to another power source can damage appliances, property, and cause serious injury or death. It is dangerous and against the law to connect backup generators to the power grid and feed electricity back into power lines.
For safety guidelines, including choosing and operating a generator safely, go to the state’s backup power generator factsheet.
For additional power outage support
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Call 211 for free, confidential advice and referrals to local services and programs. It’s available 24/7.
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Check with your utility company for area-specific preparedness tips and resources.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Red flag conditions trigger power shutoffs in parts of SoCal
