As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense due to rising temperatures, utilities in high-risk areas are increasingly using public safety power shutoffs to prevent fires sparked by electrical equipment, one of the leading causes of wildfires.
These proactive outages can leave communities without power for hours — or even days — especially during dry, windy conditions. If you live in an area that is prone to wildfires and there is a possibility of rolling blackouts by your utility, you need to be prepared if the power is shut off for an undetermined amount of time.
Prepare in advance
According to the California Public Utilities Commission and Ready.gov, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, the best time to prepare for a rolling blackout is before fire season begins.
Make an emergency plan: Every household should have a plan that includes communication protocols, meeting points and access to emergency contacts.
Build an emergency kit: Stock it with:
- Flashlights and fresh batteries
- First-aid supplies
- Portable phone chargers or power banks
- A hand-crank or battery-powered radio
- At least one gallon of water per person per day (plus water for pets)
- Nonperishable food that doesn’t require cooking
- Blankets and manual can openers
Plan for medical needs: If you or a loved one relies on electrically powered medical devices, talk with your doctor about alternative power sources. Know how long medications can be safely stored at higher temperatures if refrigeration is unavailable.
Prepare your home:Bookmark your utility’s outage map, learn how to manually open electric garage doors and understand your home’s circuit breakers and fuse boxes.
During the outage
During a blackout, you can stay safe and manage daily life without power by:
- Staying informed: Use a battery-powered radio or your car’s radio to listen for emergency updates.
- Unplugging electronics: Unplug appliances and electronics to avoid damage or data loss. Unplugging also prevents power surges when electricity is restored.
- Keeping refrigerators and freezers closed: The refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer can maintain a safe temperature for about 48 hours. Monitor temperatures with a thermometer and use coolers with ice if necessary.
- Using generators safely: Always run generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows or doors, and never inside garages or enclosed spaces. Improper use can cause deadly carbon monoxide buildup.
- Avoiding open flames: If using candles, keep them away from anything flammable and never leave them unattended.
- Watching for downed lines: Southern California Edison recommends staying at least 100 feet away from fallen power lines and calling 911 to report them.
When the power comes back on:
- Check food and medications: Discard anything that has been above 40°F for more than two hours or shows signs of spoilage. Replace any temperature-sensitive medication unless the label says otherwise.
- Reconnect electronics gradually: Turn appliances back on one at a time to avoid overloading circuits.
The takeaway
While homeowners in at-risk areas must be prepared for wildfires, they also have to be ready for rolling blackouts during wildfire season.
That requires preparation and a plan you share with the family. Consider working on it together so everyone is familiar with the plan should a power outage hit your neighborhood.