Last month’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs in Humboldt County taught all of us here at PG&E a number of valuable lessons. First and foremost was that our communication flow with local government and law enforcement agencies, as well as media, was nearly as Byzantine and mysterious as the power grid we refuse to show you. […]
PG&E
Posted inNews
A Communications ClusterKerfuffle
It was about 4:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28, when, just hours removed from a PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff that had cut power to the entirety of Humboldt County for about 36 hours, the county Office of Emergency Services sent out an alert. “PG&E advises that ALL customers in Humboldt County will lose power […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Crossed Lines
Imagine police are responding to a report of a man with a gun. Three officers pull up to find the man standing on a sidewalk. They all exit their patrol cars, raise their firearms, holding the man at gunpoint, and simultaneously begin shouting orders. “Hands up!” says one. “Get down on the ground,” yells another. […]
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New City Manager, Emergency Declaration on Eureka Agenda
The Eureka City Council will consider Tuesday formally appointing Dean Lotter as city manager, with a $170,000 annual salary and other benefits. Currently the city manager of New Brighton, Minnesota, the council selected Lotter to replace Greg Sparks, who is set to retire next month, from a pool 40 and five finalists who came to Eureka […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
In the Dark and On Our Own
Well, that new normal sure hit quick, huh? The Public Safety Power Shutoffs, which first swept over Humboldt County with minimal notice when it was thrust into 28 hours of darkness Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, came back with a vengeance less than three weeks later. In an effort to keep its woefully neglected infrastructure […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
A Year’s Work on Life Support
In the midst of harvest season, the Humboldt County Growers Alliance has announced that the county now has the most licensed cannabis businesses of any California county. In fact, an analysis by the alliance found that Humboldt County holds nearly 30 percent of the state’s cultivation licenses and is home to a third of the […]
Posted inNews
County: No Power Shutoff Tonight
The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services is reporting PG&E has advised that the county is no longer in the scope of the Public Safety Power Shutoff planned to commence at 7 p.m. due to diminishing elevated fire conditions. The release states that Humboldt County will remain with power throughout the evening, and that PG&E […]
Posted inNews
Fire Officials Talk Big Blue Blaze and Blackout Safety with Another Shutdown Coming
With Humboldt County looking like it’s headed toward another blackout beginning at 7 p.m., local fire officials are warning residents to be fire safe and be careful with equipment that produces carbon monoxide. Arcata Fire Battalion Chief Curt Watkins said his and other local departments responded to a number of blackout-related calls for service during […]
Posted inNews
PG&E and OES on Different Pages (and Maps) Until Late This Morning
What we have here is a failure to communicate. If you’ve been paying attention and bracing for the next PG&E blackout, you’re likely super confused by now, having been inundated with conflicting reports from the company, local officials and a nonprofit for close to 24 hours. Here’s our best attempt to unravel what’s happening, which, […]
Posted inNews
2nd UPDATE: With Information Conflicting, Uncertainty Mounts on Looming Blackouts
2nd UPDATE: PG&E spokesperson Deanna Contreras responded to a Journal inquiry this morning to clarify that Humboldt (southern), which was slated to lose power at 7 a.m. this morning, includes Garberville, Benbow, Redway and surrounding areas while Humboldt (northern), currently slated to lose power around 9 p.m., includes Willow Creek, Hoopa, Arcata and Eureka. Contreras […]
Posted inNews
County: All of Humboldt Will Lose Power Early Tomorrow Morning
The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services just issued an alert warning that all PG&E customers in Humboldt County will lose power before early tomorrow morning and should be prepared to be without electricity for several days. The outage comes as extreme weather conditions are set to tighten fire risks in Humboldt and surrounding counties, […]
Posted inNews
Some Power Restored as Another Blackout Looms
PG&E is in the process of inspecting lines in an effort to bring power back to Humboldt County this morning, with some areas already having been restored as another Public Safety Power Shutoff looms before dawn tomorrow. According to the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services, PG&E is hoping to restore power to all local […]