PG&E Power Outages: How to find out they are coming and deal when they do

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Planned PG&E power outages due to fire danger is the new normal for California. But how can you know they are coming, prepare for them, and get help dealing with them?[br /][br /]ABC7 News has gathered the following information to help you navigate this new reality.[br /][Ads /][br /][b]Check PG&E's wildfire weather website[/b][br /]The utility launched a [url HREF="https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/wildfires/psps-weather-map.page" TARGET="" REL=""]website with an interactive map [/url] in August to warn customers about pre-emptive shutoffs as we hit the most active months of wildfire season.[br /][br /]The website predicts the potential for the shutoffs and ranks them in four categories: Not Expected, Elevated, Public Safety Power Shutoff Watch, and Public Safety Power Shutoff Warning.[br /][br /]There are some other features too, for example, you can pull up cameras, wind speeds, and gusts.[br /][br /]**** PG&E's [url HREF="https://twitter.com/PGE4Me/status/1181618222908481540" TARGET="" REL=""]website is experiencing intermittent outages due to a high volume of traffic[/url].[/b][br /][br /][b]Sign up for public safety power shutoff alerts[/b][br /]PG&E says if it is going to let people know if it will be turning off the power in their neighborhoods.[br /][br /]The company plans to post alerts on its website pge.com, on social media, and send out emails, texts, and automated calls.[br /][br /]Go [url HREF="https://prepareforpowerdown.com/" TARGET="" REL=""]here[/url] to sign up for them.[br /][br /]You don't have to be an account holder to sign up for them. At that website[url HREF="https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/wildfires/psps-zip-codes.page?WT.mc_id=Vanity_pspszipcodealerts" TARGET="" REL=""] you can also sign up by your zip code[/url].[br /][Ads /][br /][b]Make sure you are prepared for a shutoff[/b][br /][br /]PG&E issued the following tips to customers about how to prepare for a power shutoff:[br /][br /][ul][li]Update their contact information at [url HREF="https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/your-account/account-management/manage-your-account/alerts-and-notifications/update-your-contact-information.page?WT.mc_id=Vanity_mywildfirealerts" TARGET="" REL=""]pge.com/mywildfirealerts[/url] or by calling 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours. PG&E will use this information to alert customers through automated calls, texts, and emails, when possible, prior to, and during, a Public Safety Power Shutoff.[br /][/li][br /][Ads /][br /][li]Plan for medical needs like medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power.[/li][br /][li]Identify backup charging methods for phones and keep hard copies of emergency numbers.[/li][br /][li]Build or restock your emergency kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash.[/li][br /][li]Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children and pets. Information and tips including a safety plan checklist are available at [url HREF="https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/wildfires/wildfire-safety.page?WT.mc_id=Vanity_wildfiresafety" TARGET="" REL=""]pge.com/wildfiresafety[/url].[/li][/ul][br /][br /]ABC7 has compiled its own comprehensive list of ways to be prepared.[br /][br /]Check it out here: [b][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/society/possible-blackouts-during-high-fire-conditions/3784136/" TARGET="" REL=""]PG&E may cut electricity during high fire danger -- are you prepared?[/url][/b][br /][br /][b]For the latest stories about [url HREF="https://abc7news.com/tag/pg-e-public-safety-power-shutoff/" TARGET="" REL=""]PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff go here[/url].[/b]