How to Prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoffs

During times of extreme weather, such as high winds or fire threat, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) may turn off electric power to prevent a wildfire. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and may last several hours or days.

Prepare Now 

• Sign up to get outage notifications
• Learn how to prepare for power down

Plan Ahead

Depending on the risk of damage, the weather, and other factors, power outages could last several hours or multiple days so it’s important to have an emergency plan in place:

• Have a family and personal safety plan in place for every member of your household (including pets)
• Plan for any medical needs like medications that need to be refrigerated or devices that require power
• Build or restock your emergency supply kit, including food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash
• Identify backup charging methods for phones
• Learn how to manually open your garage door
• If you have a backup generator, ensure it is ready and safe to operate before you need it

Schools also may be impacted by a PSPS. School and district leaders work closely with SDGE to determine the best course of action for student and staff safety and well-being. School closures would be determined by school and district leadership and communicated with families as early as possible.  

PSPS Notifications

When possible, affected communities will be notified they may be affected by a possible PSPS two days ahead. They will get additional notifications (also when possible) 24 hours before power is turned off, 12 hours before, one to four hours before, and at the time of shutoff. During the PSPS, notifications will be sent if any Community Resource Centers are opened, when field inspections begin, and once power is restored. 

• View real-time updates on the SDGE PSPS dashboard
• View current outage information

Support and Resources During a PSPS

Community Resource Centers

During PSPS outages, Community Resources Centers allow customers in impacted communities to access resources and up-to-date information until power has been restored. These centers are equipped with resources including Wi-Fi, ice, water, snacks, preparedness supplies, mobile device charging and other seasonal supplies.

• Find an SDGE Community Resource Center

Additional Resources: Call 211

If you rely on uninterrupted power for your health and safety, or need additional support, call 211 San Diego to learn about enhanced community resources during a PSPS. Support may include accessible transportation, back-up power, hotel vouchers and more. 211 San Diego is free, confidential, and available to answer customer calls 24/7, in over 200 languages. Dial 211 or 711 if you are hearing impaired.

• Learn more at 211 San Diego website

Wildfire Preparedness Resources

The San Diego County Office of Education Wildfire Preparedness Resource Guide features resources to assist our school communities in preparing for wildfires, as well as the impacts resulting from poor air quality. These include family preparedness resources.