Nearly 100,000 PG&E Customers Wake Up In The Dark As Storm Wallops Northern California
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- As a major storm moves across Northern California, there are power outages affecting nearly 100,000 customers, according to PG&E.
PG&E said there is no estimate as to when power will be restored, but crews are working as quickly and safely as possible. Contract crews are also on standby.
In San Francisco, power went out across the city, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Financial District. PG&E estimates 80,000 customers were affected. The outage prompted the shut down of the Montgomery BART station. Trains are just passing through. Lights are out at intersections. Police advise drivers to treat them like 4-way stop sighs. The transformer blew out near the Grand Hyatt Hotel leaving motel guests in the dark.
One of the hardest hit areas was in Sonoma, Napa, Sacramento, and Sebastopol counties. According to the PG&E outage map, more than 5000 homes were without electricity in the city of Sebastapol, alone.
Spokesman J.D. Guidi said the Peninsula was seeing 5,700 customers without power, 9,000 were without power in the East Bay, 2800 in the South Bay and 2,900 in the North Bay.
PG&E is reporting 6000 customers are in the dark in San Jose.
Residents in San Rafael and other parts of Marin County are reporting traffic lights are out at several intersections.
An outage in Red Bluff, in Tehama County is affecting more than 2500 customers. More than 100 customers are without power in Davis and Cameron Park.
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Heavy wind gusts are bound to knock down power lines. PG&E is warning customers to steer clear of trees, pools of water and other objects that may be in contact with the lines. Never try and touch or move downed power lines. Report it immediately by calling 9-1-1 or 1-800-743-5002.
In the event of an outage, customers should use battery powered flashlights, not candles.
Guidi advises customers who still have power to put a gallon container filled with water in their refrigerators. In the event of an outage, the cold container will help preserve food.
