[UPDATE 7:43 p.m.] Humboldt County Expected to Lose Power at Midnight and It May Not Be Restored for a Week, Says Office of Emergency Services

PG&E FEATURE Candle electricity powerOver the course of the day, Humboldt County went from not expecting to be affected by a massive power shutoff to 30 counties in northern and central California, to, by mid-day being told that some areas might be affected but with a solid possibility that the King Salmon plant would be able to provide a backup, to now, when a letter from the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services made clear to a number of schools, hospitals, etc. that much of the area should expect to be blacked out for as long as a week.

According to the letter,

At this time we are expecting that Humboldt County will lose power at midnight tonight due to the de-energization of the two transmission lines originating in Shasta County. PG&E was investigating the possibility of the King Salmon plant generating enough power for some or all of the county, and we are not currently optimistic about local emergency power generation capabilities.

In the absence of different information from PG&E, we are currently anticipating that most or all PG&E customers in Humboldt County will be without power. The outage may last for several days, with full restoration possibly taking five days after the PSPS is over. The wind event driving this PSPS [Public Safety Power Shutoff] is expected to be over by noon on Thursday, at which time restoration may begin.

According to a Humboldt County Alert text we received at 6:38 p.m., “Please prepare for an extended power outage. 9 1 1 should only be used for life threatening emergencies. The Sheriff’s Office will issue more information when P G & E provides outage or restoration time estimates. Please check on family and neighbors with medical needs.”

UPDATE 7:43 p.m.: Information from the County of Humboldt:

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has notified the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (Sheriff’s OES) that Humboldt County will lose power at midnight tonight due to de-energization of two transmission lines originating in Shasta County.

Based on the most recent information from PG&E, most or all customers in Humboldt County will be without power. The outage may last for several days. Power restoration is tentatively scheduled to begin Thursday at noon, however full restoration may take up to five days after the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) has ended.

Sheriff’s OES has activated the Emergency Operations Center and is actively working with local partners to respond to the outage. Public safety is the first priority. Emergency dispatch will continue to operate during the outage. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911. Do not call 911 for information about the power outage. Outage information is provided by PG&E.

Adult Protective Services is contacting current clients with access and functional needs who are at risk of death as a result of a power outage. People who rely on powered medical equipment should contact their medical providers or suppliers directly to make arrangements during the outage. Anyone experiencing an immediate medical need or life-threatening emergency should call 911. This line will be heavily impacted and is strictly for emergencies only.

PG&E had been working to generate power from its King Salmon power plant to reduce impacts to Humboldt County. However, PG&E is now reporting that the plant will not be able to meet the county’s needs. The utility is now focused on keeping critical facilities online during the outage.

The decision to shut off power, the duration of the outage and the time of restoral is solely managed by PG&E. Learn more about PSPS and sign up for alerts at prepareforpowerdown.com, or call 1-877-9000-PGE.

Be prepared for power outages:

Stock at least three days of nonperishable food and water.

Treat any intersection without lights or with flashing lights as a four-way stop.

Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged and gas tanks full.

Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.

Many medications are still usable for two to three days at room temperature, including insulin, which can keep for 28 to 30 days. However if you are in doubt, please check with your medical provider.

Review available supplies. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Keep at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water.

Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.

Know how to manually open electric garage doors and gates.

Check with your child’s school district to find out about school closures.

Sign up for Humboldt ALERT at humboldtgov.org/alerts to receive safety information and be informed of imminent threats to personal safety or property, tailored to an address of your choosing.

Follow Sheriff’s OES on Facebook for the latest information. facebook.com/humboldtcountyoes

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Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
4 years ago

Um, some clarity would be nice. What’s a Psps? This seems like it has the potential to be a massive mad max shitshow.
I’m glad I am off the grid.

Leslie
Guest
Leslie
4 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) – PG&E

Simone Whipple
Guest
Simone Whipple
4 years ago

Just where EXACTLY, is this wind? I’d like to see the map, and all the information about this.

MOLA:42
Guest
MOLA:42
4 years ago
Reply to  Simone Whipple

The catastrophic winds are supposed to rise up out of the ocean like Godzilla looking for a fun Tokyo weekend.

So far, at least where I’m at (Fortuna), it’s a tad breezy. Perhaps the wind will pick up later tonight.

Wouldn’t you know it; I just filled my freezer.

JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
Guest
JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
4 years ago
Reply to  MOLA:42

I just did my weekly shop also. The ten pound block of ice I keep in the fridge is down to five, but it won’t make a difference if we’re out for five days. Hate the grid!!

Ice
Guest
Ice
4 years ago
Reply to  Simone Whipple

Go to pge.com to find the maps..or one of the other posts on this site showing the maps..

Jim
Guest
Jim
4 years ago
Reply to  Ice

What ever happened to rotating outage blocks?

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
4 years ago
Reply to  Jim

“The sky is falling, the sky is falling!”

It’s a few minutes to midnight. Here come the Zombies!

Ruuuuuuuuuun, no, wait…..Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!

David
Guest
David
4 years ago

That is what I am telling my neighbors. The zombie Apocalypse !

L Avila
Guest
L Avila
4 years ago
Reply to  Jim

Looks like a potential mass lawsuit… We certainly didn’t get enough notice. I’d love to know what winds they’re talking about…seems to me PGE is getting ready to fold.

Sammye longacre
Guest
Sammye longacre
4 years ago
Reply to  Jim

9/11 happened and the rolling blackouts magically disappeared.

Momofmayhem
Guest
Momofmayhem
4 years ago
Reply to  Simone Whipple

It’s not about our weather here in Humboldt. We get out power from down south and since they’re being shut off we’re being shut off

MobiusDancer
Guest
MobiusDancer
4 years ago
Reply to  Simone Whipple

Windyty. Search it. They have interactive maps hat may take a while.
Also Suspicious Observers. They have a YouTube channel and a website.

Grapefruit
Guest
Grapefruit
4 years ago
Reply to  Simone Whipple

The wind is up Trumps conniving ass. This whole thing is as fishy as Israel er ah I mean Kim Jung Un’s Submarine nuclear missle.

WWGOWGA
Guest
WWGOWGA
4 years ago
Reply to  Grapefruit

Why is everything Trump’s fault? Oh is that what the lame stream media told you? Well then continue on little puppet.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

Great advanced warning for a long term power outage.

THOMAS CARDONE
Guest
THOMAS CARDONE
4 years ago

PSPS=Public Safety Power Shutoff

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago

I haven’t been able to get on PG&Es website

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

How can it go from 1 to 3 days to maybe a week? what about everyone’s food source that’s going to go bad that don’t have generators? This is total crap

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Freeze water in every plastic bottle you have. Then pull them out as needed from the freezer to the fridge. Then put the frozen foods into the best cooler you have and add the frozen bottles to the close packed cooler as needed. I’ve managed over a week doing that with very little loss. The bottle keeps water from melting into the food. And gives you extra water as it melts if your water goes out without power.

I’m exhausted. PG&E keeping it to themselves until 3pm this acfternoon left me scrambling to up date the stuff I’d let slide. But I’m set for a week. Laundry done. Water saved. Stock tanks filled. A shower then I’m done.

Lost Croat Outburst
Guest
Lost Croat Outburst
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Yes, welcome to The Third World. Ain’t it grand? Turn America into a s-hole country and people will stop coming here in droves, seeking freedom and a new chance on life. Yeah, YEAH!

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago

Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett! Let’s play musical chairs. Let the third world come in, then MOVE TO THE THIRD WORLD! It’s gotta be good weather, and cheap!!

Ice
Guest
Ice
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

It wont be a week. That’s just government ” worst case scenario” cya planning…

John
Guest
John
4 years ago

What will the drug makers (indoor growers) do without power for their grows? Expect some people to be sued for this activity!

Lost Croat Outburst
Guest
Lost Croat Outburst
4 years ago
Reply to  John

Indoor growers? What about indoor fridges and freezers? Indoor GROWERS? What about medical equipment such as C-PAP? What if your water or septic system relies on power? Lights? Indoor WHAT? Five days?

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
4 years ago

Calm down. Anyone that has lived in the hills of Humboldt already knows of outages and have already-established back-up plans in place. The folks on the coast will have PG&E power from that plant just So. of Eureka.

By the way, it’s after midnight and I still have power.

Leo's should start policing themselves
Guest
Leo's should start policing themselves
4 years ago

They said the King Salmon plant wouldn’t be able to carry the load, I’m North of there on the coast and my power is still on, it kind of seems like they say this to sell all the gas, batteries, and canned food. I hope that’s not what it is, but it seems that way. Give it a few more hours….

Redway resident
Guest
Redway resident
4 years ago

I’ve attempted to gain info from PG&E’s website, which alternately crashes, tells me to try later, cannot be reached, or (kinda scary) a notification that http://www.pge.com is an unsafe website, go back to safety! Thank you, Kym, for providing accurate info.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

http://www.divinecosmos.com

That is all…….

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
4 years ago

It’s going to be ripoff heaven.

Sohum blows
Guest
Sohum blows
4 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

It’s gonna be epic

Tim McHurdel
Guest
Tim McHurdel
4 years ago

If the power is really out for a week we will lose all services. Cell phones, water treatment, sewer, 911, etc. I doubt there is enough diesel in the county to run all the generators it would take to power those for a week. Maybe if we can get everyone in the hills to bring their supplies down and share, but I doubt that will happen.

This really could be a serious emergency and once people figure that out it will be too late. I also worry that once it turns into something serious it will be even worse in the bay area so we will get no help. Prepare to be cut off and without water or sewer. This could get really bad!

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Tim McHurdel

No you won’t. That is why emergency services plan. I’ve been without power for two weeks and outside of boredom in this electronic age, did find.

Gas pumps out or on?
Guest
Gas pumps out or on?
4 years ago

Not seeing anything over 30 mph in my forecast area. During winter storms powers usually stays on until 50 + mph . A week seems excessive for the forecast.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Are you sure it’s not areas that PG&E thinks they can get away with claiming are at risk, because they want to make us regret trying to hold them responsible for fires? 🙂

Cheryn K. English
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

That is what I think, its payback.

Y2K Again
Guest
Y2K Again
4 years ago

Yeah, I’m not buying it. If it even gets shut off, no way in hell it’s off for a week.

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  Y2K Again

I don’t need to worry. I got my candles and flares ready.

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago

My evening forecast:

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Northwest wind 6 to 13 mph.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 3 to 5 mph.

Super scary fire weather.

There is a freeze watch and frost advisory. … maybe those are fire hazards…

Greg
Guest
Greg
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

It has nothing to do with the weather in humbodlt it’s all about the power lines in between us and Shasta Co. Those are are being power off because of the wind in those areas and we are connect to the power grid forms those lines they go off so do we

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  Greg

I’m aware of the grid setup. They can parse the outages into smaller areas than what is proposed.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Yes they can.

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago

This is BULLSHITTT! No notice? What wind? Practically going into winter anyway! This is just a population control by the politicians. A large volume of top pg+e employees once held political positions within the state gov democrats they think they can do whatever they want they haven’t banned our cars yet because they probably know they would be removed from offices of power by force…

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

O, and so the banks will be closed and the ATM’s offline? Credit system down? This is one way to prevent a run on the banks! What about cardlocks at the gas pumps? What a huge mess! And who’s to say after power out so long it can even be restored right away? Keeping high voltage in the lines keeps debris from settling on them! Human caused planned societal apocyalypse !!

Mike Coraggio
Guest
Mike Coraggio
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

GET REAL!!! WHAT BULLSHIT. This is strictly a PG&E shutdown, IT IS
NOT POLITICAL! I would be angry at PG&E instead of your standard
Republican conspiracy Whakiness. PG&E IS ABUSING IT’S RATEPAYERs
AKA customers. PLEASE NO CONSPIRACY CRAP

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike Coraggio

Pg+e top officials ARE ex-gov libs!

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

+There is no Republican (or capitalism) action anywhere near this for 1,000 miles. This is the new unveiling of the new republic of California, endorsed by 100 year old 10 time elected Fienstien, (fully purchased by the chinese gov) and her relative Newsome (who is too encapsulated with fame to realize what is happening) for a beauracratic shift to take place in Ca (bought by George Soros) to detach Ca from the Federal Union of states, with endorsed protections from the United Nations and China, against the powers from the Federal Government. Hows that for a clearer picture? Why did they just now eliminate Ham Radio repeaters?

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

Are you having a nice conversation with yourself DELLIB? You are the definition of the nutty right wing uncle we all have to tolerate on family holidays.
It’s quite a reach to blame rolling blackouts on the liberals, but nice try!

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

Ok. You win. Just stay up there in Willow Creek. Bigfoot Country…I’ll have to cancel thanksgiving, sorry.

L
Guest
L
4 years ago

All this complaining, I guess people forget how horrible fires have been from wind, I live at the top of Salmon Creek and it’s very windy right now, I would think people would prefer no power to fire.buck up buttercup.

Dontlasermeplease
Guest
Dontlasermeplease
4 years ago

They are prepping the D.E.W .direct energy weapons they will be starting fires intentionally and melting faces. Keep your eyes in the sky for blue beams .

Chuck U
Guest
Chuck U
4 years ago

Empty space in your freezer should be filled with frozen water bottles, it makes it more efficient and when the power goes out you are ready. I use empty 1.75L booze bottles, they are usually a convenient shape, leave enough air for expansion of the ice and I add a few drops of bleach so they remain potable if I need the water.

If you have changed over to electronic locks make sure you have the manual key with you any know how long the battery back up lasts. If you are a Bitcoiner, better get some toilet paper to barter with.

THC
Guest
THC
4 years ago

It’s amazing how dependent we have become on technology. If you’re seriously worried or scared about losing power for 5 days you should really rethink your preparedness strategies…

Fern Fernandez
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  THC

👍

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  THC

Agreed. I had taken folks around here to be self-reliant and resourceful. This thread shows otherwise.

Real Name
Guest
Real Name
4 years ago

Corporate show of force.

Yup
Guest
Yup
4 years ago
Reply to  Real Name

I agree

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago
Reply to  Real Name

Communist Liberal, U.N. agenda signing California Polititian’s show of force…to be more precise.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

You are bright
as a broken light
in a Humboldt night,
without power.

Poster formerly known as Matt
Guest
Poster formerly known as Matt
4 years ago

Will cell towers have power?

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago

I think most cell towers have backup generators with a week of fuel supply.

Craig
Guest
Craig
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

One cell tower went a couple of months steady before the snow melted to a point were fuel could be brought to it.

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

Hhmmmmm,really , says the outlaw indoor grower in need of a weeks worth of fuel….

prrr
Guest
prrr
4 years ago

u r funny 2nite

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

Whooops well I think they have cameras now for theft… Everybody has cameras now for theft! Even without power! For DAYS!!! My camera tells me height, approx weight, heart rate and blood-glucose ! Not gender or race unfortunately. Maybe it’s designed for aliens.

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

That’s what Halloween costumes are for! It’s not stealing when it’s state supplied fuel. It’s compensation! Fuk you Gavin

Humboldt Original
Guest
Humboldt Original
4 years ago

Yet another reason to support and invest in distributed energy systems that are appropriately scaled. To hell with the power grid and power companies. Each home can be self sufficient now, businesses can generate even more than they need. Time to stop relying on corporations and government agencies, and just do things by ourselves. Rooftop solar with battery storage is the path to freedom. Humboldt hillfolk have been doing it for decades.

Duh
Guest
Duh
4 years ago

“Follow Sheriff’s OES on Facebook for the latest information. facebook.com/humboldtcountyoes”

How are you gonna do that… WITHOUT ELECTRICITY?!?! 😂

Phyllis
Guest
Phyllis
4 years ago

I see lots of teens in withdraws from not using social media, they may actually open a book or play a board game with the family.. just trying to find the positive..

Nadine
Guest
Nadine
4 years ago

Landline phones don’t work when the power is off like they used to. So be aware this shut down puts us in danger, when we can’t call 911 in case of a real emergency! Not everyone has cell service in their area.

Sherey
Guest
Sherey
4 years ago
Reply to  Nadine

Nadine, landline phones DO work when the power is down but you have to have an old-fashioned non-electronic phone to plug into the jack. Bought the cheapest one I could find for $5 years ago and it’s seen me thru many an outage here and also in Tahoe.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
4 years ago
Reply to  Sherey

A lot of people these days have landlines provided by suddenlink, which will NOT work at all if you don’t have a battery backup for the equipment in your house, and will not work for more than about 8 hours after the power fails even if you do, due to suddenlink’s repeaters running out of juice.

Nadine
Guest
Nadine
4 years ago
Reply to  Sherey

Mine used to also. But have not the last power outages we have had. Not just my landline phones, but people on my road’s land lines also. I called at&t and they said it depended on where the power was shut off and that if I call while it was happening they could tell me for sure. I asked how to do that with no cell service, and they
told me he could’t help me.

Kim
Guest
Kim
4 years ago
Reply to  Sherey

Actually they stop working when the batteries at the hub go out.

Marilyn
Guest
Marilyn
4 years ago

Is it really due to weather or have the rolling blackouts of several decades ago returned?

Up Yours PGE
Guest
Up Yours PGE
4 years ago

Nice going, PG&E. We get notified at 6:38pm for a long-term outage that starts at midnight! No wonder they went bankrupt. First, their old equipment starts fires that kill people, then they shut off power to millions more, some with barely any notice. Sounds like we need to replace PG&E! Fire the executives with their huge salaries and start fixing the transmission lines to a modern state so they can withstand a little windy conditions. Oh, and will they be reimbursing the millions of customers with freezers full of food that all has to be thrown out? Or what about people with medical devices and medicines that need to be kept cold? PG&E screwed us all bigtime. Time to get a new power company, California.

Yogini
Guest
Yogini
4 years ago

We can all rise up against this BS Geoengineered weather…start noticing ths sky a few days before these announcements

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago

I think that is the Longest Power outage I have ever heard of! Given Thanks for my off gridness now! Adgenda 21/30 I swear! They would never pull this in the big Cities!

MOLA:42
Guest
MOLA:42
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I hope you’re right Kym.

I’ll be bored to tears but I’ll live. But the You Tube withdrawal symptoms are going to be pretty severe after day three.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  MOLA:42

Your dog picture is awesome.

The silence is deafening
Guest
The silence is deafening
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym- I just got a call from the doctor’s office in Eureka on Myrtle Ave to cancel my appointment for Thursday. They said PG&E told them power would not be restored until Friday afternoon. Out of town I imagine it will take longer.

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Lol… here’s to hopen Kym, THX for keeping us all up to date! GLuck! (They really are coming for our Golf Courses tho!)

Lauri
Guest
Lauri
4 years ago

The 5-7 days of power outage seems to be for the more rural areas like Hoopa, some of S. Hum., Eastern Hum, etc. The rural areas with the least customers are always the last ones to get power back. Others should get it back in the shorter time frame. It will take so long because once a line goes down it can’t be restored until it is individually checked.
I have my opinion about what this is about but you also have to remember that poor line maintenance and poor safety procedures are what started those fires the last few years and this is an attempt to not have that happen again. Over cautiousness for high risk isn’t necessarily bad – even if it inconveniences us big time. And – it also serves as a nice practice run for if something REALLY bad happens – like the Triple Junction taking a dance lesson. So use this to figure out your vulnerabilities.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Lauri

Lauri- such a rational post.

William Whitmer
Guest
William Whitmer
4 years ago

I think this just brings to the forefront that every region should have its own power source, therefore eliminating the high voltage lines going cross country through dry areas. Not to mention a small wind turbine and a few solar panels on each house would work.

Shari
Guest
Shari
4 years ago

I would have gladly given up a week of power to have saved all my friends in Paradise’s houses. And have saved their neighbors/friends who lost their lives.

We rely too much on our gadgets and gizmos.

Please be prepared and safe everyone, use this to teach the kiddos survival/emergency skills.

And please, if you know someone who is not well or elderly, check on them!

I may have a house full of my Humboldt family members since PG&E is not way up here in Del Norte!

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  Shari

Well said. Thanks for this concept of thought.

Kris
Guest
4 years ago

Bring it, we need a reality check. I can do it so can you. Might be good for us.

Will it really happen or is PG&E trying to flex their power, i.e. muscle.

Susan
Guest
Susan
4 years ago

Pretty short notice for people to load up enough food and water and for those who have medical conditions requiring electricity.

Me
Guest
Me
4 years ago

Oh this is gonna be interesting all over nor cal I smell looting rioting violence panic kinda like the purge good job pge maybe there insurance will cover it
Hahahaha

crimestopper2
Guest
crimestopper2
4 years ago

If the juice goes off, there won’t be a single generator left in Humboldt by tomorrow night. And remember, 99% of the service stations DON’T have backup generators to pump fuel.
Renner in Fortuna has a generator. Not sure about it’s other locations.
If PGE had really wanted to help, they would have committed to putting on line the remaining gas turbines at Hum Bay plant.
If we really were proactive with a real disaster plan, both cogeneration plants would automatically be authorized to boost production by 50%. Only flaw is it takes awhile to increase the load gradually. But these are thoughts for discussion afterwards.
Take care, be safe, watch for thieves and looters always, and stay close to home if possible.
Look out Brookings-the crazy Californians are coming!

Mr.A
Guest
Mr.A
4 years ago

Several years ago, we were without power outside Miranda for 7 days. We survived. When the crews (from AZ) showed up, a neighbor and I followed them, from a distance. When they found the problem, it was a stick, about the shape and size of a divining rod, on the wire in our neighbor’s yard. They took it off and the power was back. The “grid” seems far too fragile!

Buzz
Guest
Buzz
4 years ago

This is a fascinating experiment! What poses a greater wildfire risk? It’s transmission lines managed by an electric utility vs. FIVE HUNDRED thousand generators running continuously for days… safety 1st!

DELLIB
Guest
DELLIB
4 years ago
Reply to  Buzz

Yes! 5,000 fires start from generators with no spark arrestor. A generator comes with a spark arrestor, but over time it becomes plugged with carbon and some owners of said generator opt to remove them. This is PgE’s out! When all these fires start from generators, PGE says ? It waSN’T us this time??

Buzz
Guest
Buzz
4 years ago
Reply to  DELLIB

PRECISELY! It’s about liability, pure and simple. And it’s hard to fault them for it given the severe legal consequences that result from inevitable accidents. Just ridiculous to pretend that this is for public safety instead of a corporate alibi.

Twinkle Winklestein
Guest
Twinkle Winklestein
4 years ago

It’s obvious, large scale, social experiment. i.e. Fed. Gov’t war on California. Oh yes.

bigfoot
Guest
bigfoot
4 years ago

I know gonna sound like a conspiracy nut but I saw them spraying chem trails in grid-like pattern in the interior or the state today. Felt like there is a link.

Looking up
Guest
Looking up
4 years ago
Reply to  bigfoot

Super heavy today!

bigfoot
Guest
bigfoot
4 years ago

OK so what about if there is a fire, where will the power be to power the water pumps locally? There will be no way to put out any fire anyway unless you have access to fire hydrant, or fire trucks but pumps have to put that water in trucks as well. This is a crock of shit. Screw PG & E can we get a first world energy provider please!? What idiot company can’t make money while get paid bank by every citizen on the grid.

Sam
Guest
Sam
4 years ago

Why the heck is everyone blaming pg&e? They are doing EXACTLY what ALL of us would do. They are protecting their interests.
Are we to expect any company to continue operating with a business model that will continually lose money? Heres a thought. Perhaps rather than blaming others we should plan for these things.
Everyone should overtime have a small generator. They can be picked up for $1000 new or around $600 used. Even those on a fixed income could over time set aside money for this purchase. This by far being the biggest expense.
Then when the notice comes be sure to have about 4 lbs of oats per person maybe some sugar and milk and some board games etc.
It doesnt take much.
5 gallons of fuel with a bit of power management will power that little generator for a week easy.
What i see here are mostly people blaming someone else for their own lack of preparedness.

Dennis E Doiron
Guest
Dennis E Doiron
4 years ago

No wind here in Willow Creek. WTF. We have a power plant here. Where’s the back-up? Thinking about going solar. PGE is the only problem here. They take billions and don’t maintain their shit!

Sam
Guest
Sam
4 years ago

Like others have already said here this is not about Humboldt County. The power lines that bring power to Humboldt County come from Shasta County. Turning off the power to Humboldt is a result of turning off the power in Shasta County. As far as PG&E not maintaining their shit that could not be farther from the truth. You were literally talking about thousands and thousands of miles of transmission lines that they maintain. None of which can be kept up perfectly. Again what I hear you saying is nothing more than complaining because you did not prepare for this event.
Furthermore Willow Creek does not have a power plant. Willow Creek has a substation. They may have a generator there to produce power in limited Supply But that generator is not designed to provide Power to Residents. What you need to do is learn from this experience set aside a little bit of money every month or if you are gainfully employed and make a decent amount go buy a small generator. like I said earlier you can buy a little Honda 2000 watt generator that is top shelf in quality that will work for you in situations like this. All you need is enough generator to power your refrigerator. Stock up on a few gallons of water and some food to get you through for the extended period of time That PG&E said the power may be out for.
And for those that say there’s no way they can afford to prepare there are many that claim that but yet they spend upwards of $200 per month on cigarettes $100 or more for cell phones when those can be had for half of that or less. Cable TV is another expense that one can cut internet at home the list goes on and on and on. Many times what this comes down to is us not wanting to make sacrifices and be accountable for our own lives. Besides all you would have to do is sacrifice those things for maybe one year or two years and you could buy all the necessary items that one would need to get you through an event like this.

Sam
Guest
Sam
4 years ago
Reply to  Sam

One more thing. Maybe our energy could be better spent focusing on ourselves and our neighbors and what we can do to help one another out rather than blame a corporation whose bottom line is to maximize their profits. After all at the end of the day that’s what this event is all about. PG&E does not want to be sued again by big lawyers that are trying to maximize their profits at our expense. So again knock on your neighbor’s door introduce yourself let them know you’re not a threat to them and hopefully that they are not a threat to you. Pill that’s a community together so that when these things happen we can come out on the other end unscathed. Besides wouldn’t Society be better off if we all work together at our level rather than fight?

Please Check One
Guest
Please Check One
4 years ago
Reply to  Sam

Sam, thank you for bringing such a cogent, sensible voice to this discussion. I see this as an opportunity to prepare for a Pulse, natural or man-made (we’re due). Take what’s happening now, make it a thousand, thousand times more widespread – everywhere, in fact. Then take away the cell phones and internet. That is what can, and quite possibly may happen with an EMP (electromagnetic pulse), either generated by Mr. Sun or a terrorist entity. The government has only recently acknowledged the very real danger of this occurring, and is supposedly taking steps to prepare for it. To what level of success, we can’t know until it’s tested. So, should this occur, most people will panic and be helpless, and many people (especially those who have their cell phones superglued to their hands) will go nuts. Some people will kill themselves. Many people will be paralyzed without a plan and be unable to move forward. That’s even before the food runs out (which is estimated to take about two weeks), and winter comes with the cold. Then when the cities run out of food, and people start dying, there would be a devastating societal collapse, martial law would fail, and the hoards would start moving. That’s what all this zombie stuff is about. The neurological changes that happen to a starving brain are not at all unlike the image we have of the undead. A feeding imperative and no moral compass. I’m not being over the rainbow here, and it’s not something I dwell on; unlike some people I know, I am not an apocophiliac, not even that much of a prepper. But this event is a reminder. If you think this cannot happen, you’re not paying attention. So, you’re getting a tiny and very limited glimpse of a nightmare scenario which we hope will never happen. But it could. Would you survive? Kwitcherbitchen already. Waste of breath. Use this situation as a dry run. Connect will people, help others, take stock. Don’t get locked into fear, there’s no percentage in that – rather, tap into your resources, internal as well as external. They are there, you just haven’t been using them much in this soft life most of us live in this country and culture. The message? Get strong.

Don’t trust PG$E for a second
Guest
Don’t trust PG$E for a second
4 years ago

Kinda like Bagdad, get your AK47
Be ready for the real problems to arise.
Let your imagination take over, the possibility’s are endless.
Humans get crazy when they are addicted to things.
Like the grid, tv, phone, coffee grinder, vitamix, hot tub, sauna, electric stove, refrigerator,
Forced air heating, computer. First take away the media as we know it, then take away guns, then turn off the grid. Let’s see what happens? And they want us to all move to town.
Time to meditate, or medicate? What will you do?

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

Kym- I read that PG&E has opened resource centers in various locations. Any word on one for Humboldt where people can charge devices, get help?

Eileen
Guest
Eileen
4 years ago

So glad I don’t live in Humboldt county anymore. My son has autism and relys on electricity for his computer and tv.

Loon
Guest
Loon
4 years ago

This is a huge social exsperiment. We are the mice. Be prepared to be uninformed. Get ready for city folk. National guard was first. Yup an invasion. Who has a tresspassers will be shot sign? Hope you bought enough rounds.