Some Suggestions for Getting Through a Power Shutoff

October 8, 2019

It will still be a headache, but doing a few simple things now can help.

It looks like PG&E is going to shut off power in large parts of the Bay Area tomorrow early morning in order to reduce the risk of wildfires. I have been getting asked by colleagues about what they might do to deal with that. I’m no engineer, but I have spoken to quite a few, and here are some suggestions.

  • Charge your electronics. But if you have a modern vehicle, keeping your cell phone charged is not going to be the challenge. You can charge it from your car. Likewise for your other devices with a USB connection.
  • Since you are going to be using your car as a generator. Make sure it has fuel. Fill your gas tank.

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