SCE is pre-positioning equipment and material like this in areas deemed most vulnerable to the upcoming storm, in anticipation of roads being impassable for repair crews
SCE Readies for ‘Biggest Winter Storm in 15 Years’
By Casey Wian
Southern California Edison crews are being pre-deployed to prepare for a massive winter storm expected to impact much of the company’s service area through this weekend, delivering unusually heavy wind, rain and snow.
“If it’s modeled and forecasted correctly, it’s going to be the biggest winter storm I’ve seen in the 15 years I’ve been at the company,” said Paul Roller, senior manager of SCE’s Weather Services team. “We could see several feet of snow in our mountain communities, two to three inches of rain in lower elevations and we could even see the snow level drop to 1,000 feet.”
“This storm could be different in that it will impact so many of our communities, from Catalina to Lake Arrowhead and from the Grapevine to Mammoth,” said Basil Dedman, incident commander for SCE’s storm Incident Management Team.
Heavy winds Tuesday night announced the storm’s arrival, as SCE crews fanned out across Southern California to be prepared to respond to potential power outages . One of the biggest threats is tree limbs breaking under the weight of snow and then falling into power lines.
“As we transition toward the end of the week with several feet of snow in places that don’t normally get it, that is where we’re going to have the logistical questions of ‘Do we have the crews in places that may get more snow than they’re used to?’” said Harrison Prieto, SCE meteorology specialist.
“Once the storm gets there, it’s too late,” said Thomas Brady, SCE principal manager of Business Resiliency. “We understand any outages during this kind of weather can be a hardship, and we have crews positioned to respond to any potential outages and restore power as quickly as safety allows .”
Areas of particular concern include the Tulare and Kernville districts. SCE has prepositioned equipment and supplies there because if the Grapevine is closed as expected, it will be extra challenging to supply additional materials during the storm.
SCE’s meteorology team forecasts precipitation spreading into the Sierras, Kern County mountains and Southern California mountains on Wednesday afternoon, with a few overnight showers throughout the service area. Snow levels are expected to drop dramatically through Thursday morning, followed by widespread precipitation Friday, Saturday and possibly lingering into early Sunday.
SCE reminds customers that if they see a downed power line or dangling wire — even if it appears not to be live — don’t touch or approach it and call 911 immediately.
SCE encourages customers to prepare for potential outages by taking the following measures:
Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
- Freeze water and transfer it to your refrigerator if the power goes out to keep perishables cold.
- Install surge protectors to help safeguard valuable electronic equipment, such as computers and home entertainment systems.
- Always back up important work and files on your computer.
- If you have an automatic garage door or gate, learn to open it manually (without power). Portable gasoline generators should never be used inside homes, garages, office buildings or other enclosed spaces.
- Make a safety preparedness plan for your family that includes a list and location of the above items. Be prepared to meet the special needs of infants and elderly or disabled family members. Also, plan how you will care for any pets.
Customers may report outages at 1-800-611-1911 or online at sce.com/outage-center .
