A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a program implemented by Black Hills Energy as a last resort safety measure to prevent wildfires during high-risk weather conditions. Information for that private utility company is available on their website.
The PSPS are weather driven and, just like a winter storm warning, the length and severity of the event can be difficult to gauge.
Preparation
Preparation for these events are similar to preparing for a winter storm.
- Make sure you have food that will not spoil. Food that you can eat without cooking or have a cooking device that does not require electricity.
- Make sure your vehicle gas tank is full (most stations cannot pump during a power outage).
- Have you cell phone charged and consider buying a battery backup
- Have alternative light sources available, candles or flashlights, also extra batteries
- It is best to have your prescriptions filled prior to an outage as pharmacies may have issues with computer access and such during an outage
- Have enough cash on hand for basic errands, in small bills (during an outage some businesses may have issues running cards and they can quickly lose the ability to make change for a $20 if that is what everyone is paying with)
- If you have a generator check that it is working and that you have enough fuel.
There are also some preparations that differ from those for a winter storm due to this being an extreme heat event instead of a cold event.
- Water:
- Make sure you have drinking water on hand. Without air conditioning, in the heat, staying hydrated is important.
- Know your water system, many private and public water systems my rely on electric pumps. Even some gravity fed systems may use pumps to fill their tanks. If there is not a backup generator the amount of water may be limited and could run out if there is a lengthy event.
- Prior to the outage fill up your bathtub. Sitting in a bathtub at room temperature can help cool a person and ward off heat stress. The water can also be used to fill the toilet tank allowing for the flushing of waste if your water system runs dry.
- If you have a garden consider a rain barrel to allow hand watering if your water system runs dry.
- Garage doors: If you use a electric garage door make sure you know and are able to open the door manually. If you cannot consider either parking outside or leaving the door open so to have access to your vehicle. But be aware that these PSPS events could be accompanied by storms.
PSPS Event
During a PSPS event:
- Check on elderly friends and neighbors, heat stress and heat stroke can be fatal.
- Do not open your refrigerator or freezer. Refrigerators can keep food cold for at least 4 hours if left unopened, a full freezer can keep food cold for about 2 days if left unopened.
- If your home internet is a fiber connection your fiber battery pack should provide about 8 hours of access to the internet. After 8 hours you will probably lose this way to access the internet, this is regardless of the amount you use the internet during that 8 hours.
- Cell towers that use battery backup instead of generators may only a few hours on that battery. This may cause cell phone dead-zones. This may effect some carriers more than others.
