Power outages can happen before and during the threat of a wildfire in California. With the cautious approach from California utility providers, it is bound to happen. It’s important to be prepared and know what actions to take from your house, when leaving. Here are some important pieces of preparation in case a power outage occurs.

During a Power Outage

If the power goes out, follow these steps:

• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed to insulate the cold for as long as possible.
• Shut off the gas and other combustibles such as propane tanks (why you need to know where the utility boxes).
• Remain a minimum 10 feet away from both overhead power lines and electrical facilities. Never approach or touch overhead power lines or anything in contact with the lines.
• Keep a tab on all news through local stations, twitter and law enforcement.

Before a Power Outage

• Learn how to manually open your garage doors or entrances to your property—this is VITAL!
• Be familiar with your home’s utility boxes (electricity, water and gas). Being able to access these and turn them on or off is important for home safety and return.
• Keep shoes near your door in case you need to evacuate during the night.
• Make a Fire Emergency Kit
• Always keep your vehicles gas tank at least half full.
• Make your Fire Action Plan plan now and make sure your family knows each step and role they will play during this time.
• Don’t forget your pets and livestock. Have an action plan ready for them. It is important to have this determined before a fire starts, then confirm before a fire is imminent.
• If you have a power generator, be sure you know the safety guidelines of your model, including where to connect it, which electrical cords to use, and what the electrical load rating is. An improperly installed generator can electrocute you or an electric utility worker.

Visit these websites for more information about what to do in a power outage, and how you can ensure the safety of your family during the threat of wildfire:

https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/outages/planning-and-preparedness/safety-and-preparedness/safety-and-preparedness.page

https://www.sce.com/outage-center/preparing-for-outages#accordionGrp1-1-hash/accordionGrp1-2-hash

https://www.ready.gov/power-outages