Dear Colleagues-
Due to wildland fire risks, Pacific Gas & Electric has placed 29 Northern California counties, including Alameda and Contra Costa counties, on a “watch” status for Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 9 and 10.
The Lab has been given a 48-hour advance notice from PG&E of a possible public power shutoff. We have been notified that a shutdown in the area could start as early as 12:01 a.m. Wednesday morning.
The Lab is taking preliminary steps and preparing to execute its site plans for a safe power shutdown should it become necessary.
Please stay alert for additional messages as the situation develops. You should also take steps to personally prepare for the possibility of a power shutdown at the Lab and at your home.
If a power shutoff occurs, it will last until PG&E and local authorities determine there is no longer a critical fire danger and PG&E has had a chance to assess the electrical systems and repair and restore power, as necessary. This could be several hours or a few days.
In addition, the National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch, valid for the North Bay Hills and Valleys, East Bay Hills and Valleys, Diablo Range, and the Santa Cruz Mountains from Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 5 a.m. through Thursday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. A Fire Weather Watch means upcoming weather conditions could result in extensive wildland fire occurrences or extreme fire behavior.
The Lab’s Emergency Operations Center will be monitoring the situation and will provide information via LabAlert, and at status.lbl.gov, as well as on 1-800-445-5830. Please check these resources prior to your morning or afternoon commute, and prepare accordingly.
See the frequently asked questions about how a possible power shutoff will impact the Lab and its operations, and use the resource list below to prepare at home and stay informed. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Ellen Ford
Deputy, COO
Additional Information:
The Lab’s unique geography and microclimate cause conditions that may differ from the more general information provided to the public. These links can provide you with additional information on the situation to prepare at work and at home.
Berkeley Lab
PG&E Information
PG&E List of Proposed Shutoff Counties/Cities
National Weather Service