SAN DIEGO — Update: San Diego Gas & Electric announced Thursday evening the company had restored power to all but 14 customers impacted by this week's Public Safety Power Shutoffs. The remaining people are expected to have power restored Friday morning, according to the company.
Roughly 1,200 customers lost power of the 24,700 warned of potential shutoffs.
Original story:
San Diego Gas & Electric reported Wednesday that it initiated Public Safety Power Shutoffs in certain communities to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety. This comes after SDG&E announced Tuesday it may have to cut power to more than 24,700 customers in the county's backcountry as extremely dry and blustery weather has created acute fire hazards across San Diego County this week.
Community Resource Centers are open to help support those without power in the impacted communities. The centers have resources, such as Wi-Fi and phone and medical device charging. For more information on the Community Resource Centers and impacted communities, click here.
Schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District were closed on Wednesday, Nov. 6 due to high winds, according to San Diego County Office of Education. Due to a power shutoff impacting multiple school sites, the district was also closed Thursday, Nov. 7.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs are "approved by state regulators as an important safety tool of last resort to mitigate fire risk during dangerous weather conditions," a statement from SDG&E read.
Customers who have been notified should be prepared to be without power through Friday, but the utility has opened its Emergency Operations Center to monitor conditions and has crews, materials and equipment ready for response.
SDG&E asks customers who experience a power outage to visit their outage map for status updates.
Over the warning period, humidity levels will fall as low as 10% and lower and winds out of the north and northeast will range from 20 to 30 mph, with gusts hitting 50 mph in some spots. Any brush fires that spread are likely to spread rapidly.
Authorities advised the public to refrain from any outdoor burning while the wildfire warning remains in effect.
A Fire Weather Warning was issued for San Diego County inland valleys and mountains. While the entire county should be on alert, the highest concerns will be for those areas with the strongest winds on through Thursday afternoon. The warning will expire for the inland valleys at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, and at 11:00 a.m. on Friday for the mountains.
Safety & preparedness tips from San Diego Gas & Electric
- Report downed electrical lines or gas emergencies to San Diego Gas & Electric at 800-411-7343
- Do not touch any downed power lines or broken gas lines. Report them immediately to the police or fire department
- Do not touch someone if they made contact with a power line
- If evacuating, disconnect all electrical appliances, turn off electricity at the panel, gas service at the meter and water at the main valve
- Secure loose outdoor items like umbrellas, garbage pins, and patio furniture to prevent them from flying away and damaging power lines
- Drive slower and allow for more braking
- Have an essential supplies kit. Keep a battery-operated radio and flashlights handy. Do not rely on solely candles for lighting
- Have backup power arrangements for any medical equipment
- View the SDG&E Outage Map here
WATCH RELATED: How to prepare for a power outage in San Diego County (Sep 6, 2022)