- Title: Power shut off to millions in California as wildfire risks rise
- Date: 9th October 2019
- Summary: VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS WITHOUT POWER VARIOUS OF CARS GOING THROUGH JUNCTION WITH NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS WORKING PEOPLE CROSSING STREET TRAFFIC LIGHTS WITHOUT POWER VIEW OF GAS STATION VIEW OF GAS STATION PUMPS WITH NO ELECTRICITY VARIOUS OF MAN PULLING INTO GAS STATION THAT IS CLOSED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCAL WORKER, ANTONIO, SAYING: "Well I came today, you know I come to KFC all the time to get come get me some lunch and everything is closed and I look across the street and everything is closed over there. The Jack in the Box is closed over there, I went to the 7/11 everything seems to be closed so I just drove around a few blocks and I am like what is going on? This PG & E power outage is ... cutting the power off is really serious so if you need any gas or anything right now you guys should have got that yesterday." VIEW OF GAS STATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) MATTHEW GALLAGHER, FROM VACAVILLE, SAYING: "It's too bad that it is such a large area to be turned off. You think they would be able to get it down to a smaller area but..." VARIOUS OF GALLAGHER GETTING INTO HIS TRUCK MORE OF GAS STATION PUMPS NOT WORKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) VACAVILLE RESIDENT, ANNA VIEIRA, SAYING: "Well the street lights aren't working and that is a little eerie because, you know, when people are trying to cross the street or manage, you know, the cars ... so, the traffic lights aren't working here so that I think is bizarre because hopefully people will behave and be kind and you know, be cooperative. And there are people screaming here because they can't get gas so we have people upset." VARIOUS OF WOMAN APPROACHING CLOSED COFFEE SHOP SIGN ON DOOR READING: "CLOSED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE" (SOUNDBITE) (English) VACAVILLE RESIDENT, ANNA VIEIRA, SAYING: "The only bummer is that I came to Starbucks today and there is no coffee, there's no ... the food mart is closed and so I can't get my coffee fix." VIEW OF CLOSED WALLMART WOMAN LOOKING WALKING AWAY FROM CLOSED WALLMART EMPTY SHOPPING PLAZA NEON LIGHT ON STORE READING: "OPEN" VARIOUS OF MAN BEING SERVED IN LOCAL LIQUOR STORE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIQUOR STORE OWNER, RAM SINGH MATHEARU, SAYING: "Because of the power outage since last night, so we opened the store and we used the car battery to power up our POS system and our open sign so that way, our neighborhood regular customers can get the things they need from us." SIGN WORKING AT CASH REGISTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIQUOR STORE OWNER, RAM SINGH MATHEARU, SAYING: "The PG & E I think they are monopolizing the system, they should not do that because there is a no emergency situation right now. I mean if something happens, yes we understand but everything is ok, the battery is okay, but PG & E should not shut down the power, I mean that way the people's lives, people are not used to it without the power here." VIEW OF EMPTY PARKING LOT
- Embargoed: 23rd October 2019 23:59
- Keywords: Vacaville California PG and E power cut willdfires
- Location: VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Fires
- Reuters ID: LVA001B0DORWN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Electricity was shut off to more than 500,000 California homes and businesses on Wednesday (October 9) as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. imposed a planned power outage of unprecedented scale to reduce wildfire risks posed by high winds and hot, dry weather.
A second phase of the "public safety power shutoff" was slated to begin at midday, extending cutoffs to another 234,000 customers, the utility said, and it was considering a third phase for 42,000 more homes and businesses.
The outages were planned for communities across 34 of the state's 58 counties, all in PG&E's service area in northern and central California.
In the city of Vacaville, north-east of San Francisco, drivers were struggling to get through busy junctions with no working traffic lights. Also, many stores, including Wallmart and Starbucks, remained closed.
Sustained gale-force winds were forecast to linger through midday Thursday, with isolated gusts of up to 70 miles per hour, the utility said in announcing the shutdown. Once power is turned off, it cannot be restored until winds subside, allowing PG&E to inspect equipment for damage and make repairs, the company said.
The utility has warned residents to prepare for outages that could last several days, but spokeswoman Kristi Jourdan said PG&E expected to restore electricity to most customers "within 24 to 48 hours after the weather has passed."
Ultimately the measure could leave nearly 800,000 homes and businesses, comprising millions of people, without electricity, the largest precautionary electricity shutoff PG&E has undertaken. Of six previous such power cuts, the largest occurred a year ago and affected 60,000 customers.
Ahead of Wednesday's shutdown, customers were urged to stock up on flashlights, fresh batteries, first-aid supplies and cash, and to plan for healthcare needs requiring refrigerated medications or electrical devices.
The utility said it opened 28 community centers across the planned outage zone to furnish restrooms, bottled water, battery charging and air-conditioned seating during daytime hours.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said "red-flag" warnings were posted across the state for what was shaping up to be the strongest wind event so far this season.
(Production: Saif Tawfeeq, Omar Younis). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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