Chapter 27. Preparing for Power Outages and Utility Disruptions
Power outages and utility disruptions may result from wildfires, earthquakes, severe storms, extreme heat, equipment failures, planned maintenance, vehicle collisions, or Public Safety Power Shutoffs. An electrical outage may also affect refrigeration, communications, medical equipment, garage doors, elevators, traffic signals, gas appliances, and water service.
Residents of Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, Sunol, and surrounding Tri-Valley communities should prepare for both brief interruptions and outages lasting several days. A safe plan should address lighting, charging, food, medication, medical devices, generators, gas leaks, water supplies, and reliable sources of official information.
Prepare Safe Emergency Lighting
Keep flashlights, headlamps, batteries, and battery-powered lanterns in several accessible locations. Place a flashlight beside each bed and include lighting in household emergency kits and vehicles.
Avoid relying on candles. An unattended candle can start a fire, particularly after an earthquake when flammable materials may have spilled or gas lines may be damaged. Battery-powered lighting is generally safer.
Test smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms regularly. If alarms are connected to household electricity, confirm that they have working battery backups. Never remove batteries from an alarm to power another device.
Maintain Communication and Charging Options
Charge phones, power banks, medical-device batteries, and rechargeable lights before forecast storms, dangerous fire weather, or extreme heat. Keep charging cables and vehicle adapters together in an accessible place.
Write important telephone numbers on paper because a contact list stored only on a phone may become unavailable. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can provide information when internet and mobile service fail.
Conserve phone power by reducing screen brightness, closing unnecessary applications, and limiting streaming. Use text messages for routine family check-ins when networks are congested. Do not use a vehicle for charging inside a garage, even when the garage door is open, because exhaust can create a deadly carbon-monoxide hazard.
Protect Refrigerated Food and Medication
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during an outage. According to Ready.gov, an unopened refrigerator generally keeps food cold for approximately four hours. A full, unopened freezer may maintain a safe temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer may do so for approximately 24 hours.
Use appliance thermometers to help determine whether food remained at a safe temperature. Transfer food to a cooler with ice or cold packs when appropriate. Never taste food to decide whether it is safe. When uncertain, follow current public-health guidance and discard questionable food. Ready.gov provides additional food and power-outage safety guidance.
Ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional in advance how refrigerated medication should be handled. Do not assume that medication is safe merely because it still feels cool, and do not discard or use temperature-sensitive medicine after a prolonged outage without professional guidance.
Plan for Powered Medical Devices
People who rely on oxygen concentrators, ventilators, CPAP machines, dialysis equipment, powered mobility devices, refrigerated medication, or other essential equipment need an individualized backup plan.
Before an outage:
- Ask the equipment provider how long batteries will operate.
- Obtain appropriate backup batteries or power sources.
- Identify a location with dependable electricity.
- Teach trusted contacts how to operate the equipment.
- Keep equipment-provider and healthcare telephone numbers available.
- Arrange transportation that can accommodate the person and equipment.
- Know when loss of power requires relocation or emergency assistance.
Eligible PG&E customers may qualify for Medical Baseline or vulnerable-customer programs that provide additional notices and support. These programs do not guarantee uninterrupted power or priority restoration. PG&E recommends creating a backup plan for electricity-dependent medical devices.
Call 911 if loss of electricity creates an immediate medical emergency.
Use Generators Safely
A portable generator can provide temporary power, but improper placement or connection can cause electrocution, fire, carbon-monoxide poisoning, or injury to utility workers.
Operate a generator only outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home and away from doors, windows, vents, garages, and neighboring buildings. Direct exhaust away from occupied areas. Keep the generator dry without placing it in an enclosed structure, and follow all manufacturer instructions.
Never connect a portable generator directly to household wiring unless a qualified professional has installed an approved transfer system. Improper connections can send electricity back into utility lines. Allow the generator to cool before adding fuel, and store fuel in approved containers away from living areas and ignition sources.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, chest pain, or confusion may indicate poisoning. Move everyone into fresh air and call 911 immediately. The CDC warns never to use generators or fuel-burning equipment in or near enclosed spaces.
Respond Safely to Gas Leaks
If you smell the distinctive odor added to natural gas, hear escaping gas, observe damaged gas equipment, or suspect a leak, leave immediately. Do not turn lights or appliances on or off, use a phone inside, start a vehicle, light a match, or create any other possible spark.
From a safe location, call 911 and the gas utility. Do not return until authorities say it is safe. Do not shut off gas merely because electricity failed, and never restore gas service yourself. PG&E provides current outage and gas-emergency information.
Prepare for Water Disruptions
Electric outages and earthquakes may affect pumps, treatment facilities, wells, and water pressure. Store an appropriate emergency water supply for drinking, food preparation, sanitation, pets, and medical needs.
If service stops or pressure drops, follow instructions from the water provider and public-health authorities. A boil-water notice, do-not-drink notice, or do-not-use notice requires different actions. Do not assume that boiling makes water safe under every advisory. Use bottled or otherwise approved water until the applicable authority confirms that service is safe.
Avoid opening a water heater or other pressurized system for emergency water unless you understand the equipment, have followed official instructions, and can do so safely.
Follow Official Utility Updates
Enroll in outage alerts from the electric, gas, and water providers serving your address. During an interruption, consult official outage maps, city and county emergency notices, local public-safety agencies, and utility updates.
Treat every downed power line as energized. Stay far away and keep other people and pets back. Never touch a line, vehicle, fence, tree, or pool of water that may be in contact with electrical equipment. Call 911 and report the hazard to the utility.
Helpful Hint
Never operate a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, propane heater, or other fuel-burning device inside a home, garage, carport, tent, or enclosed space. Opening doors or windows does not make indoor operation safe.
Important Safety Reminder
Utility disruptions may create several hazards simultaneously. Protect life before attempting to preserve food, charge devices, inspect equipment, or restore service. Report gas leaks, downed power lines, fires, and medical emergencies immediately, and wait for qualified authorities before returning to a dangerous area.
Important Preparedness and Safety Notice
This chapter provides general preparedness education, not real-time emergency instructions. Conditions, evacuation zones, routes, shelters, road closures, and public-safety directions can change rapidly. During an emergency, consult current information from authorized public agencies and follow all instructions issued by emergency officials. Call 911 for an immediate threat to life, active fire, serious injury, crime in progress, or another urgent emergency.
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