The Town's Public Works and Public Safety Departments are responding to several downed trees and related road clearing. Some of these trees have impacted overhead wires and there are corresponding power outages. PG&E has been advised of most, if not all of the outages, and will be responding with crews to determine cause and restore power. Please see tips in earlier Alerts regarding how to respond to downed lines and power outages. 

• Most important: do not drive over wires or into areas with downed trees and obey all traffic control directions.
• Treat all traffic signals as stop signs.

Known downed trees in Town are on Euclid, Austin, Valparaiso, and El Camino. Large sections of the Town are without power as a result of some of these trees and downed trees in adjacent communities. For more information regarding PG&E Outages, to report an outage as well as PG&E's estimation of restoration, please visit the PG&E Outage Center:

https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outagecenter/

Stay alert and prepared this week as another strong atmospheric river hits our area, bringing more rain, and strong winds, increasing the potential for flooding, fallen trees, and power outages. Storm conditions are anticipated to start in the evening of Monday, March 13, and continue through the morning of Wednesday, March 15. 

Our Alert Center and Emergency Preparedness webpage have information, contacts, and resources to help you weather the storm. Thank you for taking the time to prepare. 

As noted in a prior update, the winter storms continue and are expected to begin in earnest on Thursday, March 9 and continue through into next week. 

Sandbags

Sandbags are available at the self-service sandbag station at Holbrook Palmer Park. To learn more about proper sandbag placement, visit the Town's Emergency Preparedness resource page at https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/653/Winter-Storm-Preparedness. 

Alerts

You can sign up for Town Alerts via the Town's Notify Me! webpage - https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/list.aspx. The Town's Alert Center headlines the Town's website and will be accessible during local emergency events. You can also sign up to receive County-wide alerts via the SMC Alerts at https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/smc-alert. 

Town Preparations

The Town's Public Works and Public Safety personnel have been making preparations for the next rain event. Public Works has prepared prefilled sandbags at the Park for initial access. The sandbag station is being restocked. Crews are:

• Checking and resetting "flooded" signs in the typical flooding areas throughout Town; to include intersections.
• Checking and clearing any creek debris from storm drains and entry points.
• Staging barricades at various locations in the event road closures are needed.
• Staging areas in front of Town critical facilities for storm protection.
• Stockpiling additional "cold patch" materials that can be used to patch potholes that might arise.
• Refreshing call out lists of personnel
• Restocking generator supplies for long term events.

Should you need assistance during the storm, please reach out to the Police Department at 650-688-6500. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

The National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area reports that there is an increased potential for an atmospheric river and associated impacts from rain, wind and thunderstorms starting Thursday, March 9 and continuing through the weekend. Please sign up for SMC Alerts to receive timely updates: https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/smc-alert. Additionally, Atherton residents are encouraged to sign up for the Town's News Flash for important updates here: https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/list.aspx. 

Residents are welcome to visit the self service sand bag station at Holbrook Palmer Park to pick up up to five sandbags. To learn more about proper sandbag placement, visit the Town's Emergency Preparedness resource page here: https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/653/Winter-Storm-Preparedness

According to the PG&E Outage Website there are a few small pockets of outages that remain in Atherton (approximately 100 customers). PG&E notes anticipated restoration by late this evening (2/24). PG&E has advised that they are aware of all outages and repairs are either in progress or crews have been assigned to assess and report so that crews can be assigned. 

Extended outages are disruptive and the Town has voiced significant concern to the regional PG&E representatives regarding the extent of the outages and the limited communication/accuracy of repair estimates. Elevated poles/wires are one of the critical points of failure on the system. Trees, wind, and vehicles are a significant cause of such failures. Downed wires will not only eliminate access to power, but can also eliminate access to other wired and wireless connectivity - internet, phone, cable, and critical facility connections. Some areas and systems are designed with redundancies but most are not and it is clear from this recent event that the electrical utility systems are not immediately resilient. Undergrounding of poles and wires will mitigate, to some degree, the concerns of poles being affected by downed trees and wind; however, not all areas of the system would underground and where those systems surface, lies the point of failure. Underground Utility Districts can be formed by residents and the Town has an FAQ on its website that walks property owners through the process. The Town does not have sufficient Rule 20A funds to initiate a Town-sponsored District; but property owners can seek to form a Rule 20B District. 

For those without power, the Town's facilities (City Hall, Library, Council Chambers) are open and accessible. There is heat, electricity, and wifi. If you need access off hours, you can reach out to the Police Department and they can provide access into the Council Chambers. The Town has provided some basic information regarding preservation and use of food stores and other perishables during an extended power outage. 

Other solutions to help mitigate an extended outage include the use of back up generators and/or solar with a battery backup. For long-term outages, it may be advisable during inclement weather to seek warm shelter elsewhere. 

Survey your property to determine if there are trees that need to be maintained in ways that prevent them from becoming a point of failure to the electrical system. Evaluate the placement of new vegetation in a way that future-proofs the growth so that it does not interfere with nearby utility lines. 

Lastly, survey your property now to determine if there are branches or trees that appear to be failing. These should be cleared to prevent damage to life or property. If you need to speak to the Town about removal of such trees, reach out to Sally Bentz, Town Arborist - sbentz@ci.atherton.ca.us or visit the Town's website for details regarding tree removal. 

George Rodericks

grodericks@ci.atherton.ca.us 

Weather Related Update

The County anticipates colder temperatures each morning with subfreezing temperatures expected for interior locations. Scattered showers are expected today with brief, low-elevation snow showers. Rain and snow showers will become more widespread this evening and into Friday. There is at least a 10% chance of thunderstorms today into Friday. Gusty winds are expected this evening and into Friday evening. 

Cold temperatures will remain over the weekend, but the showers are expected to subside. Unsettled weather continues as another rain system is forecast to arrive early next week. 

Weather Outlook over the next few days:

Marsh Road Closure

PG&E crews are now conducting emergency work to replace a downed power pole on Marsh Road. As noted prior, this was one of the originating incidents of power outages in Atherton when a car struck the utility pole. Marsh Road will be closed from Middlefield Road to Bay Road until repairs are completed. It is anticipated that repairs will be in progress until approximately 10 pm tonight (February 23). There will be traffic control in the area assisting with traffic detours. 

Potential Road Closure for PG&E Repairs

One of the origin incidents for the outages in Atherton and surrounding areas was a weather-related traffic incident on Tuesday on Marsh Road. Due to the extensive nature of some of the repairs needed, PG&E will need to close the roadway to through traffic to effectuate the repairs. As soon as the Town has detailed information regarding the time and nature of the closure, we will send out that information via the Alert Center Update. 

City Hall and Library power has been restored as of February 23 at 11:30 am. Services at City Hall will remain open until 5 pm and the Library will remain open until 8 pm (assuming power remains constant). The space is available to the general public for electricity, wifi, and hang out space while we await PG&E's next steps toward restoration. 

Most of the Town is expected to have power restored by 11 pm this evening. 

City Hall (postal annex) and the Library have lost power again due to another weather/power line issue. The outage does not affect the Police Operations. The City Hall Council Chambers is temporarily open for those that need access to power, heat, and wifi.  As with all of the other outages, the Town has reached out directly to PG&E to report the outage and get updates for restoration. 

PG&E does not provide any further details than are available via their Outage website. The extent of this new outage is unknown at this time.  

PG&E work continues as portions of the Town and surrounding areas remain without power. Downed trees and other weather related incidents affected power systems throughout the region and the Peninsula peaked at around 62,000 addresses out of power countywide. PG&E crews have been working 24/7 to restore power at locations throughout the region.

The PG&E Outage Center provides additional details on each of the outages. Their site provides as much details as possible based on field work and often, the projection for restoration is the outer end of actual restoration. Via the Outage Center, you can sign up for electronic notifications (email or text) for a specific address.  

PG&E Outage Center

A more detailed look at the immediate area shows the extent of the outages affecting the community.

Estimated times of restoration for outages in Atherton, as reported by PG&E are by 11 pm on Thursday, February 23. There are multiple circuits and lines that require inspection before the power can be safely restored. 

The Town's website provides additional information regarding how to survive a prolonged power outage. Power to City Hall and the Library have been restored and both facilities are open to the public. City Hall is open from 8 am to 5 pm and has available seating, power and wifi. The Library will open at 10 am and also has available seating, power and wifi.   

Here are some additional resources for those with extend power outages in their neighborhood:

Using Appliances During Power Outages

Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home. Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows. Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home. Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, or electronics. Power may return with momentary surges or spikes that can cause damage.

Know Your Medical Needs

Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.

Food Storage

Have enough nonperishable food and water. Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if necessary. Monitor temperatures with a thermometer. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.

• Food Safety During Power Outages - https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage

Generator Safety

Generators can be helpful when the power goes out. It is important to know how use them safely to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and other hazards.

• Generators and fuel should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages.
• Install working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you, your family and pets.
• Keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. Touching a wet generator or devices connected to one can cause electrical shock.
• Always connect the generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords.
• Let the generator cool before refueling. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully.