Lab Updates From Strategic Communications

Possible Power Shutoff and Fire Weather Watch – October 9 and 10, 2019

October 7, 2019

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

Lab Loss of Commercial Power

Lab Power Outage FAQs

Berkeley Lab Weather Tower

Emergency Preparation at Home

 

PG&E Information

PG&E Public Safety Shutoff

PG&E Outage Map

PG&E List of Proposed Shutoff Counties/Cities

 

National Weather Service

National Weather Service

 

Filed Under: COO Messages

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