SoCal Edison Enables Planned Power Outage
Update by City of Goleta
The City of Goleta has been notified that due to weather conditions, SCE has shut off power this evening in the Gaviota area of Santa Barbara County. This includes:
- Unincorporated area from Gaviota to Point Conception
- Unincorporated areas west of Goleta
At this time, SCE cannot provide an estimate of restoration time. Power will be restored as conditions improve, crews conduct inspections, and determine it is safe to re-energize lines.
The following areas of Santa Barbara continue to be monitored for a potential Public Safety Power Shut-Off (PSPS):
- Unincorporated areas near Gaviota
- Unincorporated areas near Gaviota
- Unincorporated areas near Las Flores Canyon
SCE is deploying a Community Outreach Vehicle equipped with backup power so that customers can charge their personal mobile devices and continue to receive updates about the outage. Water and snacks will also be available to customers. The vehicle will be stationed at Girsh Park located at 7050 Phelps Road in Goleta, and will be open from 9:00 p.m. to midnight tonight (September 7), and 7:00 a.m. to midnight tomorrow (if outage continues).
There are currently no areas within Goleta City limits that are being monitored for a PSPS. However, the shut-off could have residual impacts and is a good reminder to be prepared should a PSPS occur within City limits.
Visit the SCE website for more information: https://www.sce.
Helpful resources include:
Update by City of Goleta
The City has received updated information on SCE’s potential Public Safety Power Shut-offs in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. They are continuing to monitor weather conditions. The area in “Noleta", between the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta from Paradise Road down Turnpike Road to More Mesa, is no longer under consideration for a power shut-off.
However, the area between Dos Pueblos Canyon Road and Gaviota and along Refugio Road and Highway 101 north of Goleta is still under consideration, as are areas further north.
Again, no Public Safety Power Shutoffs have been initiated by SCE at this time.
Visit the SCE website for more information: https://www.sce.com/safety/
While this potential Public Safety Power Shut-off doesn’t impact Goleta directly this time, residents should be informed of what to do if a Shutoff were to occur in their area and takes steps to prepare now.
Here are some helpful resources:
- ReadySBC.org
- Santa Barbara County One-Sheet: Preparing for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in Santa Barbara County
- City of Goleta Website: Multi-Day Power Outages
Stay current by following the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management on Twitter at @SBCountyOEM.
By edhat staff
Southern California Edison (SCE) is considering a Public Safety Power Outage on Friday and Saturday within Santa Barbara County.
An alert was sent out to Goleta and Noleta residents warning them of the potential outage. An edhat reader reports they received an "aware and prepare" which stated the following:
Southern California Edison (SCE) has notified the public this afternoon that it is considering turning off power to certain areas in Santa Barbara County later this week. One outage may occur between Dos Pueblos Canyon Road and Gaviota and along Refugio Road and Highway 101 north of Goleta on Friday (September 6). Another outage may occur in the “Noleta” area between the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta from Paradise Road down Turnpike Road to More Mesa on Saturday (September 7). More information will be provided as it becomes available. If you live in or work in or near these areas, you should make necessary preparations for a possible multiple day power outage. Call SCE directly at 1-800-611-1911 or visit www.sce.com/safety/wildfire/psps with questions related to this potential outage. For tips on how to prepare, go to ReadySBC.org and click “Preparing for a Public Safety Power Shutdown (PSPS).
SCE's website states the Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are due to weather conditions that may create the potential for elevated fire risk. Currently, 4,600 customers are "under PSPS consideration."
Maps listed as area 1-4 draw out where these apparent shutoffs may occur:
- Area 1 Map depicts a large section surrounding Highway 154 leading through Turnpike and the More Mesa area.
- Area 2 Map shows a parcel of land where Cathedral Oaks Road dead ends by Maria Ygnacio Creek in Goleta.
- Area 3 Map illustrates the majority of Painted Cave Road and the Painted Cave community
- Area 4 Map includes a large area of Highway 101 from Dos Pueblos Canyon to Gaviota.
According to the City of Goleta, SCE has not yet made the decision whether the PSPS will take place, but it could lead to multi-day power outages during extremely hot, dry, and/or windy weather. A PSPS outage will last as long as the potentially dangerous weather conditions exist, plus the amount of time it takes for power company workers to inspect and repair their equipment in the affected area(s).
Residents should be prepared for a power outage that could last 3-5 days.
Below are some resources:
191 Comments
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Sep 07, 2019 10:42 AMEdison is a business, private, with a Board of Directors.
"Two Ways to Contact Us. Call our Edison Helpline at 1-800- 877-7089 to have your matter transmitted directly to the appropriate Director or Directors, or send it to us at this address:
[Name of Director or Directors]
c/o Corporate Secretary.
Edison International (or SCE).
2244 Walnut Grove Ave.
Rosemead, Calif. 91770 .
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Sep 07, 2019 10:09 AMThe’ve reduced the number of potentially affected customers again per the SCE PSPS Website, again, it’s not really clear on the maps at the website: ************************* Santa Barbara County (648 customers)
Unincorporated areas west of Goleta
Unincorporated areas from near Gaviota to Point Conception
Unincorporated areas near Las Flores Canyon
Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 | Area 5. *********** I am no fan of this program because I think it will impact the elderly badly. It would be great if SCE executives and managers used their bonuses to pay for any ruined frozen food for the elederly and poor if and when they trigger an outage. The execs will all get attaboys for their brilliant program while we’re all mopping up or kitchen floors from the goop dripping out the freezer.
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Sep 07, 2019 10:07 AM"...when elderly people use an electric fan in extreme heat, instead of cooling them down, it actually raises their core body temperature and increases their heart rate.” http://theconversation.com/electric-fans-may-not-help-the-elderly-in-a-heatwave-64834
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Sep 07, 2019 02:35 PMThat may be true of "extreme heat." However, today's high will be 86ºF and that is far from "extreme." You're testifying about temperatures in the 100s.
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Sep 07, 2019 09:43 AMWhat's worse, a couple days without electricity or another Thomas Fire? Put big hunks of ice in Fridge and freezer, maybe dry ice. Better to not have electricity than not have a home due to fire.
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Sep 07, 2019 09:01 AM"About 9 percent of all fires are caused by vehicles and 9 percent by powerlines, yet we don’t close highways when there are extreme fire condition days. We would simply not consider disrupting lives this way."
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Sep 07, 2019 10:15 AMThe Carr Fire in Redding which destroyed 1,100 homes was caused by sparks from the rim of a flat tire.
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Sep 07, 2019 08:59 AMEveryone MUST protest power turnoffs! "PSPS impacts are significant. Most affected will be people who are dependent on electricity for medical devices such as oxygenator machines, dialysis and electric wheelchairs.----The elderly and others will have no electricity to run needed air conditioning and fans on days of record-breaking heat. Nearly all gas stations in communities affected will have no power. Street signals, restaurant refrigeration, elevators and school classrooms will all be without power.----
People who physically cannot use stairs will be unable to make appointments and go to work because the elevator they rely on will be out of service. Residents with electric garage doors and electric gates will not open during a PSPS, and during an emergency they could become trapped if they are not trained or capable of opening them manually.----Even firefighters who are responding to fires will not have adequate water that relies on electric pumps to fill tanks and pressurize hydrants. Farmers and ranchers may not have water for crops and livestock."---- Read full ARTICLE HERE: https://www.noozhawk.com/article/will_shutting_off_power_to_prevent_wildfires_inflict_more_harm_than_protect
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Sep 08, 2019 08:11 PMTADGES, good catch about PGE and the Paradise Fire. I glossed over that one. 50% of the houses in my brother in law’s neighborhood burned down in that fire, but his home was thankfully spared. His girlfriend lost her job because the nursing care facility she worked at burned down too. I grew up in Northern California so last year’s fires hit me personally.
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Sep 08, 2019 04:08 PMTom.....your FACT is a LIE....PG&E serves Paradise so we'll just ignore the rest of your blather.
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Sep 07, 2019 03:48 PMMaybe some fires are caused by flat tires. But, when it’s 90 degrees out and a sundowner is blowing, I’m worried about power lines. Maybe some spoiled food isn’t the worst thing that can happen. It’s usually calm in the morning. Why couldn’t they give us a little juice to re-cool the fridge?
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Sep 07, 2019 10:22 AMTom, you seem to be using your posts to promote a business since the email address you give is for the product you are recommending. Think about buying an ad instead.
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Sep 07, 2019 10:02 AMThe 88 deaths in the city pf Paradise were cause by not shutting of the power..FACT Edison was held responsible and are not going to do that again. There is nothing you can do when the governor backs this up. I quot " we are all worried about the elderly. Were worried about it because we could people power shut off not for one day but potentially a week"
Governor Newsom
The area we live in has ONE source of power and that runs right through the mountains north of us. There is no other choice!!! The ONLY solution is a Micro Grid to protect your home or business. Not stock piling food, getting a wasteful generator that runs on gas that you will not be able to get more of when the power is out that long. This is a reality that is here to stay. I want to help everybody, not fight the energy company's....Please feel free to reach out to me personally for more info and safety tips.
Tom
Tom@drmicrogrid.com
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Sep 07, 2019 08:51 AMWhat an absolute mess Edison is.
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Sep 06, 2019 07:58 PMSo far so good. SCE didn’t issue the 2nd warning today. They just spent all day futzing with map boundaries in an incomprehensible way. Tomorrow seems to be the big wind event. Perhaps if they cut power then it will only be for one night and not two. If you have a couple frozen water jugs in your freezers then that may be good enough for 24hrs.
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Sep 06, 2019 03:42 PMPer the link for Southern California Edison's PSPS Webpage, we are now down to 1,561 affected customers in our area. **** Santa Barbara County (1,561 customers)
◾Unincorporated areas west of Goleta
◾Unincorporated areas from near Gaviota to Point Conception
◾Unincorporated areas near Las Flores Canyon
◾Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 | Area 5 | Area 6
This is obviously a dynamic situation. Thankfully the number went down (it was ~5,700 customers earlier today)
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Sep 06, 2019 04:44 PMThanks for info. Areas. Microclimates. Geography.
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Sep 06, 2019 02:14 PMFire Weather Watch. URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
1131 AM PDT Fri Sep 6 2019.
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM SATURDAY THROUGH 7 AM
SUNDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY OVER PARTS OF SANTA
BARBARA COUNTY...
.Sundowner winds combined with warm and dry conditions are
expected to impact portions of Santa Barbara County through the
weekend. Peak wind gusts will range between 40 and 50 mph, with
isolated gusts to 60 mph near Gaviota. Gusty winds to 40 mph will
spread into areas near the Montecito Hills after midnight as
winds turn north to northeast. Humidities will get down into the
teens in some areas and temperatures will be in the 80s to lower
90s in the afternoon and evening hours.
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Sep 06, 2019 12:22 PMNo doubt we will become the guinea pig for this power shutdown. The Edison helicopter was flying the same areas yesterday that the shutdowns are to occur later.
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Sep 06, 2019 11:36 AMFor those thinking that the shutdowns are based on topography - from the actual SCE maps: "SCEhasid entified thisareaasc ontaining d istribution c irc uit(s)
thatprov id eelec tric alserv ic eto c ustom ersloc ated in Hig hFire
R isk Areasand m ay besubjec tto Public Safety PowerShutoffs
(PSPS).Som ec irc uits,asind ic ated on them ap,m ay orig inate
from ,term inatein,orotherwisetrav erseHig hFireR isk Areas,
and theentirec irc uitm ay besubjec tto aPSPSev entoutag e.
WhileSCE’sg oalisto m inim izetheoutag eto affec ted areas
d uring aPSPSev ent,v arioussystem d esig n,operational,and
env ironm entalfac torswillaffec thowand when powerisrestored
to thesec irc uitsorportionsthereof."
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Sep 06, 2019 11:39 AMWhoops - formatting was bad: "SCE has identified this area as containing distribution circuit(s)
that provide electrical service to customers located in High Fire
Risk Areas and may be subject to Public Safety Power Shutoffs
(PSPS).Some circuits, as indicated on the map, may originate
from ,terminate in, or otherwise traverse High Fire Risk Areas..... you can edit the rest if you want :)
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Sep 06, 2019 11:26 AMNOAA just added a Fire Weather Watch: I have a feeling we're going to be one of the first field tests of the preemptive power shutdown program. Fire Weather Watch
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
1019 AM PDT Fri Sep 6 2019
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE SATURDAY NIGHT FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY OVER
PARTS OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY...
.Sundowner winds combined with warm and dry conditions are
expected to impact portions of Santa Barbara County through the
weekend. Peak wind gusts will range between 40 and 50 mph, with
isolated gusts to 60 mph near Gaviota. Gusty winds to 40 mph will
spread into areas near the Montecito Hills after midnight as
winds turn north to northeast. Humidities will get down into the
teens in some areas and temperatures will be in the 80s to lower
90s in the afternoon and evening hours.
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Sep 06, 2019 10:38 AMFor refrigerators get block ice to keep goods cold. It worked back in the "icebox" times when the ice man delivered your ice. Maybe dry ice would work for freezers? Or, as someone mentioned here, freeze zip lock bags with water and freeze to make your own blocks.
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Sep 06, 2019 11:51 AMLarge Zip lock bags are NOT fragile and work great.
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Sep 06, 2019 11:24 AMZip lock bags are fragile, single use containers. Used plastic milk or soda bottles make great "ice blocks". Some can be moved to the fridge when power goes out. The melt water is contained, ready for the next freeze. Realistically, we prefer the small honda gas generator. Relatively quiet and easy to use and we can run the fridge, the well pump or anything else.
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Sep 06, 2019 10:26 AMHere you have it folks, the updated forecast about 30 min ago. Mother Nature has some excitement in store for us the next couple days:
Wind Advisory
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
958 AM PDT Fri Sep 6 2019
CAZ039-052-070300-
/O.CON.KLOX.WI.Y.0064.190906T2300Z-190908T1000Z/
Santa Barbara County South Coast-Santa Barbara County Mountains-
Including the cities of Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria,
San Marcos Pass, San Rafael Wilderness Area,
and Dick Smith Wilderness Area
958 AM PDT Fri Sep 6 2019
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
3 AM PDT SUNDAY...
* WINDS...Areas of northwest to north winds 15 to 30 mph with
gusts up to 45 mph will develop late this afternoon and early
this evening, strongest west of Goleta. Winds will increase to
20 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph on Saturday night and become
more widespread.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will make driving difficult, especially
for high profile vehicles. This includes Highways 101, 154 and
192, as well as the Gaviota and San Marcos Passes.
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Sep 06, 2019 04:37 PMI'm all for prep. My only issue is microclimates. Many places will have little to no wind. I probably shouldn't say this. BE PREPARED for earthquake or fire or electricity outage!
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Sep 06, 2019 10:09 AMPer the link for Southern California Edison's PSPS Webpage, they just added TWO more maps to our area, taking the potential shutdown zones all the way to Point Conception. They are definitely thinking about us. There are about 5,700 customers in the six maps. I don't think that there are that many bags of ice on the south coast.
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Sep 06, 2019 11:15 AMThey added 2 more areas of potential outages but haven't warned us yet. Good thing for Edhat, but most people I know had no idea of the outages until I asked them. Pretty sketchy.
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Sep 06, 2019 09:12 AMSome bored employee at Edison, with a sharpie, drew the Edison borders for the power outage. It bears no relationship to the terrain, to the amount of vegetation, or density of population.
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Sep 06, 2019 04:31 PMI said something like that at 3:28. Has a lot to do with circuit areas.
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Sep 06, 2019 09:24 AMOr they use the power grid, the circuit layout and the actual lines? No wonder conspiracy theories thrive. People have lost all ability to reason. Instead, they use their tiny universe of experiences and limited knowledge to create a reason... Same word, different meanings.
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Sep 06, 2019 09:22 AM9:12am - These areas aren't necessarily being shut down because of topography or anything, but more because these are where elements of SCE's equipment would be impacted the most. Still a crappy thing to do, but maybe that explains why they chose such seemingly odd places to shut down.
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Sep 06, 2019 09:02 AMNoleta. Java Station at Hollister/Nogal, opens daily at 6am. Meet for coffee if our electricity is out. Share information. SHASTA GUY, John Wiley, and Roger...we'll "make a plate" for you, join us. County of S.B. if there's a fire, put an information board at Java Station.
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Sep 06, 2019 09:43 AM@9:02 - I hate to break it to you, but you might want to look more closely at the Area 1 Map. Java Station is within the outage boundary so I doubt they'll be open, much less making coffee for you.
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Sep 06, 2019 08:55 AMPer NOAA, nominal max wind gusts at nominal foothill locations for Friday night: 30mph Mission Canyon, 30mph 154/SMP, 35mph Ellwood, 35mph Gaviota coast. Per NOAA, nominal max wind gusts Saturday night: 30mph Mission Canyon, 30mph 154/SMP, 40mph Ellwood, 45-50mph Gaviota coast. If this forecast holds, it's going to be very windy tonight and tomorrow night.
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Sep 06, 2019 08:46 AMThere's a druggie/firebug/camper/vagrant who has started several small fires along the bike path between Puente and Nogal recently. Neighbors put the fires out. With sundowner winds...Hope Ranch look out, it's coming your way. Sheriff, please patrol the bike path for this heartless man ... who hasn't been caught. Campers and their drug cooking fires, separate them from the bike path.
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Sep 06, 2019 03:45 PMHave you reported the camp or individual? Offered to walk with an officer to point the person and camp out? I'll assume you have done so.
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Sep 06, 2019 08:45 AMAmazing. People are freaking out over a couple of days without power? Even with an announcement days prior to the event! To think, just 2 generations ago the overwhelming majority of people in the US had no electricity in their homes or their lives... And today? People call 911 when their internet is down. Or they take to Edhat to stir up their fears of being robbed by gangs of masked bandits marauding through the darkness. How about getting a book or two, a few candles, a lantern a small cooking/camping stove and enjoying the peace and quiet for a change? All while knowing that the power and your comforts are just a day or two away. If a planned outage makes you scared, what are you going to do when the BIG ONE hits? Seriously. What are you going to do when the 101 is closed and power is out for weeks?
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Sep 06, 2019 07:32 PMI really don’t feel like losing the $200 worth of food we keep in our refrigerator.
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Sep 06, 2019 04:24 PMOkay... I can certainly see how the tone of the post is a turn off. But we all have to get the meaning.
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Sep 06, 2019 04:22 PMIf anyone who downvoted SBObserver's post would anonymously explain why, I'd really like to hear your thoughts. I can't understand why anyone would downvote the statements expressed here. Thanks in advance! ================================================== (do store good canned food, like vegetables and beans, and buy a gallon of water to store every time you shop, til you've built up a good store.)
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Sep 06, 2019 03:42 PMI agree. I guess the mantra of aware and prepare or whatever it is had little effect.
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Sep 06, 2019 11:30 AMYes, Amazing! Own your existence, be prepared. I second the book or two....as well as a shotgun. Whining for police protection? Good luck with that.
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Sep 06, 2019 08:07 AMS.C.E. is an expert on how fires start.
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Sep 06, 2019 07:44 AMSheriff Brown, please assign deputies to protect Noleta during this "emergency" created by Edison. We need deputies at Puente/Hollister, Puente/More Mesa (at Atascadero Creek bridge-- by the bike path that will be used to cart our personal possessions away during the power outage...).
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Sep 06, 2019 08:11 AMIf you are really worried, go to the SB shelter and adopt one of their pit bulls. Very few people will try to rob a house with a barking pit. Mine have protected my house from this several times. Came home to find some screens removed but no further entry. Just don't tell anyone the big secret that they are mostly bark and can be bribed with a few treats.
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Sep 06, 2019 07:30 AMI trust our fire department. If they're staging engines on #154, and Hollister/Turnpike, and on Puente, I'll know that there's ____real___ danger from fire Friday and Saturday. OOPs, I think our Noleta fire station #13 (Hollister, near Puente) will have it's power turned off, too.
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Sep 05, 2019 11:10 PMLooking at the weather channel it looks like winds will not go off shore until about 8p tomorrow(Friday). And predicted wind velocity generally not over 10 Mph. I wonder what threshold SCE will be using regarding cutting power to the Noleta/Goleta/Gaviota area? I, and many relatives, live in Noleta and thank SCE for proactively protecting my area, if necessary. But why are they not planning to protect SB, Montecito and Carp?
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Sep 06, 2019 03:39 PMI think because wind is only expected to the west. KEYT also reported that low of wind speeds.
Absurd. No information. Can't believe SCE would shut down power for low wind speeds. We haven't even gotten into our summer! Oct-Dec is most likely to be hot, nasty and dangerous! I dread it, myself.
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