5 things to know about stopping PG & E's outdoor eating

Red flag warnings issued over the weekend in response to increased risks of forest fires have led Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to cut off the power of tens of thousands of people in the northern part of the country. California. Here's what we know about failures so far:

How many people are affected by the power outage?

At 16:51, Monday, PG & E reported that 59,819 customers still did not have electricity. The outage affected residents of Napa, Sonoma, El Dorado, Lake, Amador and Calaveras Counties.

Update: The stop of the public safety supply remains in force for 17,000 customers in North Bay and 42,000 in Sierra Foothills. We continue to monitor the weather and provide updates to our affected customers in Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Amador, El Dorado and Calaveras Counties. pic.twitter.com/Wqde9cqiQj

– PG & E (@ PGE4Me) October 15, 2018

When should power come back?

Teams will continue to monitor winds throughout the day and repair power lines as needed.

"Most of the customers should be reinstated by tonight, with breakdowns lasting until Tuesday," said Paul Doherty, spokesman for PG & E. "The restoration time of the day." 39, diet depends on weather conditions and the need to make repairs. "

Was the blackout really necessary?

The shutdown was an unprecedented step for the utility company, which had already withstood the preventive shutdown of the power supply during extreme fire conditions. The red flag warnings, the low moisture content and the state of the dry brush and ground vegetation are important factors in the decision to close the lines in the 'extreme risk areas'. fire, "officials said.

In June, Cal Fire investigators accused the PG & E power lines of having unleashed at least a dozen forest fires in the state, including the terrible fires of the Atlas and Nuns last year.

What weather conditions prompted PG & E to turn off the power and why is it important?

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning on Saturday morning, which is in effect until Monday at noon. According to forecasts, bursts of up to 70 mph in the ridges of the North Bay Mountains, as well as a daytime humidity of up to 5% in some areas. All fires triggered could spread quickly.

What should I do in case of emergency?

Clients facing a medical emergency should contact 911. PG & E recommends that customers prepare an emergency plan for future failures by learning if they are in a high-fire area and creating a supplies kit. rescue.