After Storm Caused Over 11,000 Humboldt Customers to Lose Power; PG&E Tries to Restore Electricity ASAP Before Next Storm

A transformer on fire near Alliance Road in Arcata Sunday. [Video and photo below by Frances Martin]

An unusual storm for the northern California coast left 11,400 PG&E customers without power at times over the weekend in Humboldt County, said Deanna Contreas, a spokesperson for the company today. As of around 12:30 p.m. today, power had been restored to over 4000 of those but 7,600 were still hoping for relief.

“We’re bringing in several generators to the Hoopa area,” Contreas said. We’re expecting another round of winter weather on Wednesday.”

She said the company hopes to restore as many as possible before the coming storm. She estimated that most in the Hoopa would have electricity by 8 p.m. and many in the rest of the Orleans to Willow Creek area would be back on by 10 p.m. However, she warned that there would still be pockets without power even then.

Contreras said that PG&E estimates power will be restored to Weott by 10 p.m. also. She suggested that anyone looking for the latest updates check the company’s outage map.

She suggested that if anyone is hooking up a generator to get them through the power outage they check out tips at PGE.com/generator

Contreras warned that a new storm was predicted for Wednesday and said that if anyone “comes across any downed line, assume it is energized and call 911.” They can also cal 1 800 PGE-5002.

A transformer on fire near Alliance Road in Arcata Sunday.

A transformer on fire near Alliance Road in Arcata Sunday. [Photo by Frances Martin]

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23 Comments
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Just saying
Guest
Just saying
5 years ago

We are one of the many trapped due to down lines and trees on the road, fortunately we have plenty for supplies and wood heat.

Fromthehills
Guest
Fromthehills
5 years ago
Reply to  Just saying

Funny how commifornia wants to ban your wood heat. Can enough energy be sourced from the moonlight to de-snow solar panels at night?

chasi
Guest
chasi
5 years ago
Reply to  Fromthehills

Funny how so many Cali-haters are ok with ‘commies’ owning our nation though huh?

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
5 years ago
Reply to  Fromthehills

You must be from the Bay Area. We don’t have those limits up here, where you actually need to heat your home…

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

I hope Central HumCo is okay they haven’t commented in a while well maybe it’s just a power outage situation hopefully everything’s okay

Just saying
Guest
Just saying
5 years ago
Reply to  Just saying

As a note, I am among the trapped but prepared, my husband is a lineman that can’t get out to help restore because of our location

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯👍🏾

gunsmoke
Guest
gunsmoke
5 years ago

Willie, what do those symbols mean?

Big louie
Guest
Big louie
5 years ago

Just got back from town to by gas for the jenie and the power was on whoo hoo for phone and sub contractors you are unsung heroes God bless you and yours

Möbius Dancer
Guest
Möbius Dancer
5 years ago

Noticed that the alphabetical outage map STARTS with Oroville.
I sigh.
Thanks for the link and I’ll try it later.
Also – lest anyone hunk I Do Not Appreciate the efforts of the people who are doing the work of restoring continuity to us – they are Heros and deserve kudos.
Even as we hope they hurry up and fix it already. I know they are out there doing the real work. Thanks.

Mobius Dancer
Guest
Mobius Dancer
5 years ago
Reply to  Möbius Dancer

6:30 pm Monday – Power ON!

Thank you! I wish you warm hands and warm feet!

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Mobius Dancer

6pm Tuesday and power back on. Hooray.

ESFOAD
Guest
ESFOAD
5 years ago

That Transformer smoke eerily resembles a mushroom cloud….. Cooks Valley, the southernmost community of Humboldt County on 101 is still out of power and I’ve heard 10 Wednesday. WTF?

Sparkelmahn
Guest
Sparkelmahn
5 years ago
Reply to  ESFOAD

mushroom cloud > meth cloud

Mark
Guest
Mark
5 years ago
Reply to  ESFOAD

That’s because transformers are really little tiny nuclear power plants. But that is a highly guarded secret….

ESFOAD
Guest
ESFOAD
5 years ago

I guess they heard me crying about it LOL the power just came on in Cooks Valley time to turn Jenny off 🙂

Diane
Guest
Diane
5 years ago

That transformer was actually on Samoa just past town. I saw it blow – BOOM

John
Guest
John
5 years ago

Not sure that it was “an unusual storm”. I remember storms like the last one many times growing up in the 70’s on the coast. The transformer blowing up is of concern. Can anyone say pcb’s? The storm coming in tonight looks large, and with all the recent snow the flooding potential is large. Hunker down, everyone. Today is the day to stock up, if needed.

Sparkelmahn
Guest
Sparkelmahn
5 years ago
Reply to  John

Hudson River in upstate NY can say “PCB”s thanks to good old General Electric Corp.

Geoffrey davis
Guest
Geoffrey davis
5 years ago

A old indian prayer……
Wood to heat and cook the meat! Amen

Sparkelmahn
Guest
Sparkelmahn
5 years ago
Reply to  Geoffrey davis

Give thanks.

Martin
Guest
Martin
5 years ago

Thank you PG&E for your endless hard work trying to restore power to everyone. Working around the clock in these nasty and cold conditions I know is no fun. Be safe.

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
5 years ago
Reply to  Martin

This is day # 3 without power in Dinsmore. PG&E is killing me and my plants!