PG&E is expected to proactively shut off power to parts of the City of Sonoma (City) and Sonoma Valley this evening, Wednesday, October 14th. Look up an address on the PG&E power outage map to see if a particular location is included in this planned power outage.
PG&E has advised that the exact time of de-energization and restoration are subject to change based on weather. Please refer to PG&E’s PSPS Updates page for the most current outage maps, estimated shut off times and power restoration information.
Operations
City offices are not expected to lose power and will be open by appointment, regular hours.
PG&E Community Resource Centers (CRC)
PG&E will open two CRC’s in Sonoma Valley on Wednesday, October 14th. The Community Resource Centers are scheduled to be open 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM on Wednesday, hours of operation for Thursday are to be determined. All Community Resource Centers follow state and county guidelines to fight COVID-19. Please visit their website for more information. The two CRC locations in Sonoma Valley are:
- First Congregational Church of Sonoma (Outdoors Only), 252 West Spain Street, Sonoma. Snacks & water, ADA-accessible restroom & washing station, WiFi, device charging and small medical device charging available.
- Hanna Boys Center Large Conference Room (Indoor), 17000 Arnold Dr., Sonoma. Snacks & water, ADA-accessible restroom & washing station, WiFi, device charging, small medical device charging, air conditioning, ice and seating available.
Schools
Sonoma Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) does not expect PG&E power shut-offs to affect schools, but there may be individual families in the Sonoma Valley that are affected by this latest weather event. Households that lose power are encouraged to communicate with your school and teacher via phone or email. Home power loss during distance learning will be recorded as an excused absence.
SVUSD will communicate with staff and families if the emergency rises to the level of a school or district closure for any reason. That communication would come via text, phone, and email in English and Spanish shortly after the decision is made.
Weather
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the North Bay Mountains and Valleys beginning at 5:00 AM Wednesday (10/14) to 11:00 AM on Friday (10/16).
The Sonoma Valley Fire District has staffed up a Type 3 engine, water tender, and a task force leader to join a county Task Force and has increased staffing in Sonoma Valley to four-person engine companies for the critical fire weather.
Traffic Safety
While we don’t expect any traffic signals to be out in Sonoma city limits, drivers are reminded to be vigilant as multiple intersections in Sonoma County may be without power including during traditional commute times. Public Safety officials urge drivers to reduce speeds, drive with caution, and treat all intersections without power as a 4-way stop, per state law.
The City has information at for Sonoma residents and businesses to help prepare for a potential power shutoff on our Extended Power Outage webpage (http://www.sonomacity.org/extended-power-outages/) as part of the City’s Emergency Preparedness information where you can find more resources and information about PG&E’s PSPS program and ways you can better prepare for extended power outages.