Our meteorology team is closely monitoring this week’s upcoming storm conditions. According to initial weather forecasts, the region could experience widespread rain on Tuesday (Mar. 10) with a slight chance for thunderstorms and a few additional weather impacts Wednesday – Friday. To prepare for the incoming weather system, we’re focusing on providing safety tips to our customers and employees to ensure we’re prepared at a regional level and at home.

How we prepare

As we take steps to inform San Diegans of storm safety, we are doing our part to mitigate and quickly respond to weather-related outages. Some of the proactive measures we are taking to weather the storm include:

• Fully staffing operation centers to ensure quick and safe response to any weather-related outages
• Increasing inventory and equipment at operations centers
• Supplying each operation center with floodwater removal equipment, such as pumping trucks, to help remove water in our underground facilities, if necessary

What you can do

Prepare:

• Check your roof and home drainage system – ensure gutters are clear for proper drainage.
• Sandbags can be used to redirect water away from areas of property.
• Have battery-powered lighting (flashlights/lanterns) on hand in case of weather-related outage.
• If you are dependent on electrically-operated medical equipment, please be sure to make prior arrangements for backup power in the case of an outage.

Recognize hazards:

• Drive cautiously, and account for extra time on the road when planning trips.
  • Inclement weather can limit visibility, giving you less time to react to obstacles when they come into your field of vision.
  • A car needs two to three times more stopping distance on wet pavement.
  • Use extra caution if you see SDG&E crews out working.
• If a branch or tree falls on a power line, do not try to remove it. Call SDG&E immediately to report the situation.
• If you see a downed power line, call 911 and SDG&E immediately at 800-611-SDGE (7343). Always assume that power lines are energized and do not touch them.
• Do not rely on candles during a power outage as they pose a significant fire hazard. Instead, use a flashlight or battery-powered lighting.
• In case of an outage, unplug any large appliances and sensitive equipment to avoid any power surges once power has been restored.

For additional outage preparedness tips visit sdge.com/safety.  You can get the latest information on power outages at sdge.com/outage or the SDG&E mobile app.