PG&E provides their tips for Power Outage Safety
Posted by Santa Cruz County American Red Cross on January 9, 2008
Storm Season Tips and Information from PG&E
During storm season it is important to have the right information on hand for yourself, friends and neighbors. When individuals experience a power outage they should call PG&E’s outage information line at 1-800-PGE-5002 to report the outage and/or to get updates on the power restoration efforts in their area. Calling this line is the most efficient way to get updated outage information.
What you should have in case of a power outage:
- Battery operated radios with fresh batteries ready for updates on storm conditions and power outages.
- Battery operated flashlights with fresh batteries on hand
- A cell phone, or hard-wired, single line telephone. Cordless phones will not work without power.
- PG&E and the American Red Cross recommend that individuals do not use candles because of the risk of fire.
- Fill used liter sized plastic soda bottles with water and place them in the freezer. During an extended outage, transfer them to the refrigerator to prevent food from spoiling. Open the refrigerator only when necessary, keeping warm air out and cool air in. If food is exposed to warm air for an extended length of time, please reffer to the chart below to assess the food’s edibility.
- If you have a generator, call PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-PGE-5000. Make sure your generator is installed safely and properly. If it is not, you risk damaging your property and endangering yourself and PG&E line workers who may be working on power lines some distance from your home. Information on the safe installation of generators can be found on PG&E’s website: www.pge.com/generator.
What you should know in case of a power outage:
- If you see a downed power line, assume that it is “live” or carrying electrical current. Do not touch or try to move it and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines and other electric emergencies immediately by calling 911 and PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-PGE-5000.
- If your power goes out, turn off and unplug all electric appliances. When the power is restored, several appliances may turn on at once and overload your circuits. Heat generating appliances left on may pose a fire hazard. Leave a single lamp on to alert you when the power returns.
Information given on behalf of PG&E, Central coast and Southern Santa Clara county, 2008
