PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff – October 26, 2019
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Public Safety Power Shutoff Announcements (MAP)
BE PREPARED
A power outage in our downtown area can have dire consequences if you are not prepared. If this temporary power outage turns into an emergency, our city has an evacuation plan for orderly evacuations and just as important plans for emergency preparedness and business recovery.
We will keep you posted as we get alerts from the Lafayette Police Department.
There is a boatload of information on the chamber website: www.lafayettechamber.org/emergency-prep/
Who is in charge during an emergency?
The City Manager has authority to declare a local emergency. The Police Chief will have the authority to close areas of the city to the public if necessary. Mutual aid assistance will be called for as needed. An Incident Command Post will be set up at the Don Tatzin Community Room at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center tomorrow. All communications will be handled through this organization.
If there is a wildfire, evacuations will be likely. Lafayette’s plan is broken up into 16 different zones and will list Evacuation Collection Areas where residents will be directed. You can view this plan on the city’s website.
How will you be notified?
NIXLE. You should sign up if had not already. www.nixle.com
Lafayette hosts a NIXLE site and will be used to transmit messages from the Unified Command to our residents.
WEA System. The Wireless Emergency Alerting System is a component of the Integrated Public Alerting and Warning System. This system uses the cell phone towers in the area to alert all the cellular telephones in the zone of the tower. This is activated through the County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch.
Business Recovery
At this point we are looking at the inconvenience of not having power for 36+ hours. Do yourself a favor. Unplug everything you can, power down your computers, office equipment, etc. This could protect you when the power is turned back on and you are faced with the possibility of a surge.
- Fill your gas tank
- Get some batteries
- Check your emergency kits
- Have a plan with your family and with your staff at work.
- Check with your alarm company for advice
TIPS FROM Edward Zeidan from Lamorinda Technology –
- Turn off computers before the outage. Computers don’t like to have the power turned off suddenly and may suffer damage to equipment and data.
- If there is a power outage consider unplugging-not just turning off-computers your electronics during the outage.
- When power is restored there are often power surges and power sags. Both surges and dips can damage or destroy your electronics and data. If your equipment is unplugged, it cannot be damaged.
- Please note that we recommend you unplug your equipment even if you have a surge protector or battery backup, as strong surges can go right through these devices.
We are all in uncharted territory here. Let’s look out for each other and show a little kindness to your neighbors. All the signals in town will be out. Please observe the Stop signs and be careful.
Best to you over these next few days. We will be around keeping an eye on our beautiful Lafayette.
Jay Lifson
Executive Director