How to track, report and prepare for a power outage as Northern California faces storm

High winds and rain picked up in Sacramento as snow fell in northern parts of the valley this week.

Thousands of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and SMUD customers lost power overnight Wednesday as the first big punch of the storm made contact.

“Wind always has the potential to cause outages due to trees and limbs falling on lines,” said SMUD spokesperson Lindsay VanLangingham in an email to The Bee.

Here’s how to track, report and prepare for outages in the Sacramento region:

How to track power outages

PG&E customers can also check for outages online with their addresses.

If you’re a SMUD customer, you can track power outages in your area online by entering your address.

How to report a power outage

If you experience an outage or know of one, you can report the outage online or through the SMUD app. PG&E customers can also report outages through their accounts online.

“(O)ur crews are ready to retore any outages that may occur, both quickly and safely,” VanLangingham said.

How to prepare for power outages

To prepare for potential blackouts, you can create an emergency kit, which includes water, non-perishable food and a first aid kit.

During the January’s winter storm, SMUD advised that you do not heat your house with propane heaters, grills or barbecues because this can produce carbon monoxide.

You should go to a warming center if it is too cold and also disconnect appliances, keep your fridge closed and stay updated with local alerts.

According to ready.gov, a national emergency preparedness service, power can return momentarily in spikes or surges and cause damage to appliances. The national service stated that a refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours and a freezer will maintain cool temperatures for about 48 hours.

The Red Cross recommends checking weather or updates from your energy provider to stay updated with local alerts and warning systems.

If you know there’s possible outages in your area, you can prepare by:

• Talking to your doctor and preparing any medications or medical devices that need to use electricity or have to be refrigerated.
• Stocking your home with non-perishable food and water, the Red Cross advised. You may also want to plan to use a cooler and ice to keep perishable food cold.
• Installing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 4:40 PM.