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Crews Hampered by Severe Winds; Repairs Being Slowed Down by Massive Debris
Southern California Edison (SCE) is asking customers in the San Gabriel Valley or elsewhere who have downed lines on or near their property to call 911 and stay inside to remain safe until SCE crews can repair the lines. This includes the power lines that run between power poles and either homes or businesses.
SCE will continue restoring service to customers throughout the night and for the next several days. Customers are asked to stay away from any downed or dangling lines, including those between homes and power poles. A downed line or dangling wire is dangerous — even if it appears not to be live.
In the San Gabriel Valley, crews will be working along a corridor by the foothills, from the western cities of La Crescenta, La Cañada Flintridge, Altadena, Sierra Madre and Arcadia to the eastern cities of Duarte, Monrovia, Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne.
Customers who are unable to reach a 911 operator quickly can call SCE customer service at (800) 655-4555.
Severe winds and debris have been hampering power restoration efforts by SCE crews, and some customers without power should prepare for the possibility of being without service overnight and possibly longer.
High winds have knocked down thousands of trees and strewn debris across wide areas, limiting and, in some cases, preventing access to equipment. Hundreds of personnel with SCE have assessed damages throughout its 50,000-square-mile service territory. Crews are working to restore service as safely and quickly as possible in areas where they have access.
As of 5 p.m. PST today, SCE had 205,321 customers without service.
High winds are forecast for tonight, which could result in more power outages and damage similar to what the region experienced today.
Hardest hit areas
The hardest hit areas served by SCE as of 5 p.m. today were: San Gabriel, San Bernardino, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, El Monte, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia and Sierra Madre.
Also heavily impacted were San Marino, Temple City, El Segundo, Long Beach, Torrance, Upland, Crestline, Barstow and Sun City.
Safety reminders
With high winds forecast, SCE wants to remind its customers to be prepared in case of weather-related outages and suggests:
- If you know someone who is dependent on electrically operated medical equipment, make backup power arrangements in case a power outage affects that equipment.
- Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
- Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; do not use candles because they pose a significant fire hazard.
- Do not use equipment indoors that is designed for outdoor cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
- Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep your food as fresh as possible. An unopened refrigerator can keep foods cold enough for a couple of hours. A half full freezer will stay cold for up to 24 hours and a full freezer for 48 hours. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage.
- Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.
- If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into the generator, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.
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