Following Southland Rains, SCE Crews Assist as Storms Continue to Drench Northern Calif.
As one of the heaviest rainstorms to hit Southern California in several years passed through the area, Northern California continues to get pounded with numerous evacuations taking place due to the flooding.
With a couple of days of rest following local storms and winds, 18 Southern California Edison crews and support staff packed up their trucks and headed to Northern California as the area continues to get drenched.
“We had one significant event and we had a significant response,” said Terry Ohanian, SCE principal manager, about Friday’s drenching. “They got a one-two punch up north. They saw the same storm as us, but ours had subsided by Sunday. Their second storm came in on Sunday night and was followed by periods of strong wind.”
Eighteen SCE crews and support staff, about 100 employees, made the drive up north Tuesday where they will assist in repairs and restoration of power to those affected by the current rains. Most SCE customers had their power restored by Saturday following Friday’s downpour.
SCE and PG&E crews attend a safety briefing near Watsonville for a mutual assistance effort.
SCE crews bunked overnight near the Tulare Service Center. On Wednesday morning they assembled for a safety discussion and vehicle inspection before heading to Watsonville to help restore power to local residents.
Several roads continue to be closed due to mudslides and flooding. Part of the challenge for SCE crews will be working in areas with steep terrain and heavy vegetation.
PG&E made the request as part of the Western Region Mutual Assistance Group (WRMAG), a group of utilities that reach out to other companies to help restore power in times of need. The request first came on Friday, but SCE was in the midst of its own downpour at the time.
“We had to take care of our own customers first, to make sure our own shop was taken care of,” said Ohanian. “By Sunday morning the storms had moved out and we made the decision to send our crews.”
In addition to swelling rivers and creeks from the recent storms, Northern California is expecting more rains and howling winds later this week.
Rains are forecast for Southern California starting Sunday, but on a smaller scale than recent storms. SCE’s system has held up well and Ohanian notes the company has enough crews available and on standby in case local rains result in outages for customers.
“We have more than 500 crews at various locations throughout the territory,” he said. “We have enough crews at the ready to handle any foreseeable storms this week.”
Storm Safety Tips:
- Downed trees and mudslides may have damaged electrical lines. If you come across any downed wires, stay away and call 911.
- Wet yards with puddles on cement and grass can carry electricity. If a line is down in your yard, remain indoors and call 911 immediately.
- Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they’re fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage. Do not use candles because they pose a significant fire hazard.
- If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using heavy-duty extension cords. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
- Beware during flooding. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down and 2 feet can sweep your vehicle away.
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