With high winds and low humidity predicted for most of Los Angeles and Ventura County, as well as interior San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County, Southern California Edison (SCE) reminds its customers that outages might occur and to never approach or touch downed power lines.

With high winds and the potential for extreme fire conditions forecast, the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Southern California that will be in effect on Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“SCE is closely monitoring the conditions,” said Steve Conroy, SCE director of Corporate Communications. “If you see a downed line or dangling wire — even if it appears not to be live — don’t touch or approach it and call 911 immediately.”

If outages occur, customers can get the latest information using SCE’s outage app, visiting www.sce.com/safety, or by following the utility at Twitter and Facebook. They can also report an outage at 1-800-611-1911.

Customer safety is a top priority for SCE and they remind residents to check emergency supplies for a battery-operated radio, a flashlight and fresh batteries.

Some other tips include:

  • Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
  • If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives. It is okay to use your cell phone to call 911. If you must leave the vehicle, remember to exit away from downed power lines and exit by jumping from the vehicle. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling your feet until you are several yards away. 
  • 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.
  • Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.