About 1,000 PG&E customers resumed power in Nevada County today, leaving 14,220 (as of this writing) off-grid for a sixth day. The road situation continues to improve as the county’s public construction workers continue to open roads, aided by private contractors hired by the county who also remove debris on private roads.
There are still major problems for residents without electricity, heating or telephone / internet access. Of the more than 200 reports that we received today, 76 reported no landline connection, 106 had no internet / cable. The entire city of Washington has no landline or internet, and only a fraction of households are powered by a large generator. Landlines are also reported in North San Juan.
In rural areas, where cell towers only cover a fraction of the population, the lack of a working landline connection means there is no way of calling 911 in an emergency or 211 for immediate needs.
Several residents of mobile home parks (each mobile home park counts as a customer for the supplier, regardless of how many people live in the park) have described themselves as catastrophic using our report form. No heat since Sunday or Monday and no way to cook a warm meal.
We have requested a status update from PG&E, some of which are:
We continue to work to securely and quickly get power to the remaining 32,000 customers and we have temporarily and will continue to provide power in multiple locations including hospitals, heating centers and substations to keep customers powered, while we do repairs to damaged equipment.
We flew 8 helicopters in the 3 districts where we still have electrical impact that will help us speed up the assessments and recovery process. We have approximately 1,700 electrical equipment failures, including 760 in Placer County, 700 in Nevada County, and 300 in El Dorado County.
We have so far identified 400 utility poles in need of replacement, nearly 200 of which are in Placer County.
Many Grass Valley and Colfax customers will have power tomorrow, Sunday at midnight, but for other customers it will be several days as we continue to access our equipment, perform assessments, and repairs.
PG&E also supports efforts by the county and regional Red Cross to open thermal shelters to serve customers in need.
To help, PG&E has also partnered with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, which implements the Disability Disaster Access & Resource (DDAR) program. FREED, an independent residential center outside of the DDAR program, may be able to offer hotels, transportation, and generator gift cards to customers with disabilities, independent living, and older adults.
Customers in the Nevada, Placer, and El Dorado counties wishing to request support can call PG&E at 1-800-477-3333 and PG&E will send a recommendation to FREED.
To support our customers in the Georgetown Divide, we have also opened a location where we offer gobags with a blanket, charger, snacks and a water bottle. That’s at Marshall Grange Hall in Garden Valley, 4940 Marshall Rd in Garden Valley. It opened at 3 p.m. and will stay open until 7 p.m. tonight. Tomorrow it will be open on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is in addition to the 5 PG&E Community Resource Centers (CRCs).
January 1, 2022, 9:24 p.m. Editor’s note: The 800 number listed in the PG&E press release is incorrect. Instead, call 211 or the main PG&E number 1-800-743-5000.
An equally pressing problem is propane deliveries or the lack thereof. 68 readers stated that they either had too little or critically too little propane.
The stacks of firewood are becoming scarce for wood stove users, but there is the beginning of a solution. Nevada County is working with the Fire Safe Council to set up a firewood distribution facility to shred and split seasoned wood. The removal of trees by the contractors will replenish the supply for the next year. More details will follow shortly.
Sub-zero temperatures are forecast again overnight, with maximum daily temperatures at the foot of the 40s to 50s and mountain temperatures in the 20s to 30s.
Four disposal points for perishable food will be set up:
- Eric Rood Administration Center – 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City (behind the prison)
- Nevada County Operations Center – 12350 La Barr Meadows, Grass Valley
- Condon Park – 544 Butler Street, Grass Valley
- DeVere Mautino Park – 10609 Alta Street, Grass Valley
If possible, use our form to report progress and damage. We share the information with the Nevada County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), which in turn uses every resource at its disposal to assign crews, nonprofits, and county employees.
Are you a provider or a company that offers required services such as snow plowing, firewood or tree removal? Please notify 211 by calling 1-833-DIAL211 as we are working to connect residents with available services.
The county is working with 211 to keep a list of gas stations, grocery stores, and hardware stores currently open to the public. Please call 211 for more information. Just select 2-1-1 or 1-833-DIAL211. Do you own or run a local business that currently sells essential goods such as gas, groceries, ice, and water? Please let 211 know by filling out this simple form.
Overnight accommodations are being set up at the following locations:
First Baptist Church
1866 Ridge Road, Grass Valley, CA 95945
Supported by the Red Cross
Open Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Service animals allowed. No pets allowed.
Contains:
- heat
- Electricity & charging stations
- meal
- take a shower
Please call 211 at 1-833-DIAL211 for more information about transportation.
Nevada City Veterans Hall (lower level)
415 North Pine Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
Supported by Sierra Roots
Open until Tuesday morning.
Contains:
- heat
- Electricity & charging stations
- meal
- Beds and blankets
Please call 211 at 1-833-DIAL211 for more information about transportation.
Church of the Mountains
10079 Church Street Truckee, CA
For more information, please contact North Tahoe-Truckee Homeless Services
Heat center
Madelyn Helling Library
Open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday
Open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday
Check out your neighbors if you can
If you have resources like food, water, wood, gas, or the ability to help clear the driveway, etc., please reach out to your neighbors who may be alone, isolated, or need additional help. This community always comes through in forest fires, let’s pack up and help each other. Take care.
