UPDATE 9:40 p.m. — PG&E has now warned that Willits, Boonville, and Fort Bragg may also lose power. Read more:
MENDOCINO Co., 10/7/19 — The County of Mendocino has sent out a notice that Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) will most likely begin a planned power shut-off in the Ukiah area, Ukiah, Hopland, Redwood Valley, and Potter Valley at 12 a.m., Wednesday. This outage is planned due to forecasts of severe fire weather, with extremely high winds and low relatively humidity expecting to sweep through especially the higher elevations of southeastern Mendocino County, creating conditions reminiscent of those experienced the night that the Redwood Fire and the other Wine Country Fires began.
Though, these assessments are being made on the basis of weather forecasts, which can and often do change — the situation is fluid, and we could see even more areas, or fewer, affected by this weather and the shut-off.
Several other counties, including Sonoma, Napa, and Lake (up to 31 total) will also experience a shut-off. This will mean that everything from rural wells, to gas pumps, and some stoplights might cease to work — residents are urged to prepare as PG&E has warned that power may not be restored for up to five days depending on the severity of conditions.
There’s a list on the county’s website of businesses and organizations that may remain open during the shutdown, and which ones will be closed. The list is from July 3, but is the most current information available. In particular, there may be a limited number fuel facilities such as gas stations open in areas having a power shutdown. Here’s the link. You can also check out our coverage of PG&E’s presentation to the Ukiah City Council in June, which is dated, but includes a number of useful links towards the end.
Here is the press release from the County, below is a map provide by PG&E of the areas they currently believe will be shut off.
Potential PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff Scheduled for October 9, 2019 through October 10, 2019.
Post Date: 10/07/2019 2:50 PM
The County of Mendocino has been notified by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) that power may be turned off in our area due to red flag fire hazard conditions. At this time, effected areas include Redwood Valley, Potter Valley, Hopland, Ukiah and the greater Ukiah Valley. This information continues to evolve and could change prior to the scheduled event.
The potential power shut off will begin on Wednesday, October 9 at 12:00 am , through Thursday, October 10 at 12:00 pm. Residents should be aware that at the conclusion of the shut-off, it could take several days for power lines to be re-energized.
Residents should be prepared with food, water, and any other necessary supplies for this extended outage. Residents can go to the County of Mendocino’s website www.mendocinocounty.org/
community/public-safety-power-shutoff and PG&E’s website www.prepareforpowerdown.com for power outage information, helpful preparedness tips and lists of markets, grocery stores and fueling stations that will be open during the outage in your area.
For more information, please contact the Executive Office at 707-463-4441.
Here’s the link to PG&E’s page with a map that’s updating.
This map is not definitive, everything will depend on the weather, and specific conditions on the ground. Take these maps as a guideline, and everyone should be prepared.
Check out our earlier reporting here:
