Full Notification

Until PG&E restores electricity to select areas of the hills where the utility implemented a planned shutoff Wednesday night, please continue to make preparations to be without electricity for up to five days.

The City activated its Emergency Operations Center on Monday, mobilizing staff across all departments and increased police and fire presence in areas PG&E had identified as being potentially affected.

If you need devices charged, please use your workplace, city libraries, senior centers, or other resources you may have access to. PG&E has created a resource center in Oakland for Alameda County that offers water, electricity chargers, and restrooms. Details are below.

High fire danger conditions still apply in the hills. Please take steps to reduce fire danger, and do not burn candles or have open flames or take any other actions that could increase risk.

If you are without power, turn off all your appliances and lights so they are not damaged when power is restored.  

East Bay Municipal Utility District requests that people conserve water whenever possible.

Neighbors should check on neighbors. Neighborhoods that have developed emergency preparedness plans should use those plans to check on neighbors.

Here are some key actions you can take:

1.   Know how to get information in multiple ways. Sign up for alerts from PG&E and AC Alert. Although PG&E's site has been offline at times, you can also sign up for PG&E's zip-code specific alerts by texting "ENROLL" to 97633. All City libraries will post information as it becomes available. Listen to 1610 AM for information on the hour on both KPFA 94.1 FM and KPFB 89.3 FM.  

2.   Use our wildfire evacuation tips to prepare to leave quickly.  If you believe you may have trouble evacuating in an emergency and you are in a high fire danger area that has no power, you should make plans to leave as soon as possible.

3.   To help officers and firefighters respond in the hills, avoid parking at red curbs, in "No Parking" areas and within 15 feet of fire hydrants and entrances to fire stations. Extra police and parking enforcement officers will be patrolling the Berkeley hills to ensure safe and accessible roadways.

If you are power-dependent for medical reasons, and you live in an affected area, we encourage you to use your available resources to relocate to an unaffected area. If you are unable to relocate and the loss of power will cause an immediate life threat, call 9-1-1 for transport to an Emergency Room. If you require support for non-emergency needs or questions, please, call 3-1-1 or (510) 981-2489.

The City is particularly aware of the impact this power outage may have on those with access and functional needs. In response to the PG&E outage happening in Berkeley, the City created a task force working with organizations that serve this impacted population.  Before the power outage, a City staff outreach team proactively reached out by telephone and home visits to people with electricity dependent needs. Now that power is off, the teams will continue that important work. At the same time, emergency responders stand ready to assist in any capacity needed. These relationships and values reflect years of work, and underscore our commitment to serve all.

There are several important fire safety measures when electricity is off:

-    Don't burn anything including candles.
-    Don't idle your car in the hills.
-    Don't use any heat producing tools or machines such as lawnmowers.
-    If you have a generator, know how to use it safely.

PG&E has two steps that they must complete before power can be restored:

• The weather is declared all clear.
• All power lines and electrical infrastructure are visually inspected and determined safe to be safe to be "re-energized."

PG&E has consistently told the City this can take up to five days after their weather-related needs for an outage are over. For Alameda County, PG&E anticipates that this process will start around 12:00 pm Thursday October 10^th.

If you feel threatened, leave immediately. Do not wait for an evacuation order. If you see any of the following, consider evacuating on your own and calling 9-1-1:

• Visible fire in an adjacent home,
• Visible fire in a home close by with strong winds,
• Strong winds carrying smoke and/or embers through or over your neighborhood.

Again, Berkeley residents may contact the 3-1-1 Customer Service line at (510) 981-2489 to report any dangerous conditions.

PG&E's Alameda County resource center location:

PG&E Alameda County Resource Center
Merritt College Lot B, Leona St, Oakland 94508
The center will remain open during daylight hours only.

If your devices are not working, you will be able to get information at Berkeley Public Library branches.  The Library will also provide 24-hour Wi-Fi access during this outage.

• Central Library, 2090 Kittredge
• North Branch, 1170 The Alameda 
• South Branch, 1901 Russell
• Claremont Branch, 2940 Benvenue Avenue
• West Branch, 1125 University Avenue

The Central Library is open 10 am-6 pm on Thursday. Branch libraries are open from noon to 8 pm.

Please help us to keep Berkeley safe during this time.