Will The PG&E Power Shutoffs Hit Lancaster?
In light of recent events in California, many people are concerned about their homes and safety. The California forest fires are no joke, especially to those nearby them. And with the fire season expected to continue into December, it begs the question: will the shut-offs affect Lancaster?
Pacific Gas & Electric, more commonly known as PG&E, is conducting emergency power shut-offs all over California, especially in the northern parts of the state. According to the company, these shut-offs are being done to ensure people’s safety and prevent more wildfires being caused by broken power lines. Over the past few weeks, these shut-offs have left more than two million Californians without power.
In order to determine if a power shut-off is necessary, PG&E looks at specific criteria, including a Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather Service, humidity levels, consistent winds above 25 mph, excessive gusts of about 45 mph, and the presence of dry fuel on the ground. On-the-ground real-time observations from PG&E’s Wildfire Safety Operations Center can also help the company determine whether to shut off the power.
As Lancaster watches northern California burn, many are concerned that the shutoffs will soon come to Lancaster. In fact, these shut-offs have already impacted people in nearby Santa Clarita and San Fernando. However, Lancaster seems safe for the moment. Of course, with fire conditions expected to continue into next month, things could change quickly.
Eastside sophomore Iyccis Murray is prepared in case it does. “I’m prepared,” she says. “I have flashlights, candles, non-refrigerated food, water bottles, and most importantly, a generator.”
Natalia Hernandez, another Eastside sophomore, thinks the power shut-offs won’t reach Lancaster. “We don’t have any trees near power lines that could cause a bigger fire,” she explains. “We have flat land.”
However, that doesn’t mean the entire Antelope Valley is safe.
“Palmdale has more mountainous terrain so they could get the shutoffs,” she explains. “But we [in Lancaster] don’t have a fire hazard that should cause a shutoff. “
While it is not likely that a fire will reach the Lancaster area, it still pays to be prepared. A survey taken of over 100 Eastside students showed that only 48% of those students are prepared in case of an emergency power shut-off. The other 52% are not.
To prepare for a power outage, the school district recommends having the following items on hand: first aid kit, bottled water, flashlights with batteries, canned food, can opener, battery-operated radio, and gasoline. These tips are taken from the American Red Cross, which has more detailed instructions here.
While most of the fires are now contained, the fire season is expected to continue into next month. After that, the rainy season is just around the corner.
