Staying Safe During Stormy Winter Weather

Staying Safe During Stormy Winter Weather

With rain, wind and cooler temperatures arriving in the San Diego region, we at SDG&E want to remind our customers to make sure they are safe and prepared for the forecasted conditions and the possibility of storm-related outages.

Our expert team of meteorologists are monitoring the storm through America’s largest utility-owned weather network, and our crews will be working to prevent storm-related service interruptions, but it’s important to be prepared in case you lose power.

With winds already gusting in parts of the county, we also want to remind customers one of the most common causes of outages during storms is flying debris, so it’s important to secure loose items like tarps and pool covers in your backyard to make sure they aren’t picked up by the wind, where they could become tangled with power lines.

Here are some quick safety tips to follow if you do experience an outage:

  • Use a flashlight—instead of candles—for light
  • If using a standby generator follow these safety tips
  • Turn off major appliances like dishwashers or televisions that were running when the power went out to prevent them from starting unexpectedly when power is restored
  • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food fresh
  • Leave one light on so you know when power is restored

Power line safety reminder

Fallen electric lines are extremely dangerous. If a person or piece of equipment comes in contact with an electric line, or if a line is down, remember the following:

  • Stay clear and do not touch the line or any other equipment
  • Call 911 and SDG&E at 800-411-SDGE (7343) to report the incident
  • Always assume that power lines are energized
  • If a person or animal has come into contact with a power line, do not touch them or any equipment involved—the line may still be energized and dangerous

Remember to check our online outage map or mobile app for the latest outage information and visit SDGEweather.com for the latest conditions.

For customers impacted by last month’s Lilac Fire, San Diego County and CAL Fire are offering free sandbags and other materials to help prevent erosion and mudslides.

Stay safe out there!