Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – The County of Marin is preparing for a potential shutoff of PG&E power to areas of Marin County on Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, July 15-16, because of extreme weather and wildfire conditions.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) has notified the County that it may activate its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) protocols in response to the combination of dry conditions, high temperatures, and high winds in certain areas throughout Marin County.
On July 14, PG&E said it could potentially initiate a planned power shutoff in portions of Mill Valley, Kentfield, and San Anselmo by 2 PM Wednesday, July 15. The official duration of the shutoff and power restoration are unknown, but projections show the duration to be through 10 AM Thursday, July 16.
“We are being proactive and mobilizing our resources in direct coordination with PG&E and the City of Mill Valley and Town of San Anselmo, due to the potential power loss and increased fire threat,” said Steven Torrence, Director of the County’s Office of Emergency Management. “Public safety is our No. 1 priority, and we will focus our unified efforts to ensure the safety and security of our community members – especially those with access and functional needs whose health could be impacted by the loss of power.”
The Office of Emergency Management is putting into motion its Electrical System De-energization Response Protocol, which includes AlertMarin notifications to the impacted areas and Community Resources Centers with the support of PG&E. Additionally, it is coordinating with nearby response partners in monitoring the power situation throughout the county.
PG&E is monitoring weather patterns and said it will provide updates to customers and the County of Marin as additional information is available. Residents and businesses can access updated PSPS information from PG&E at PGE.com/pspsupdates.
As of 2 PM July 14, PG&E estimated the following figures on households to be affected by a possible PSPS:
| Marin County communities | Number of Households |
|---|---|
| Mill Valley | 2,018 |
| Kentfield | Less than 10 |
| San Anselmo | Less than 10 |
| Estimated total | ~2,022 |
All questions regarding PSPS events and extended outages should be directed to PG&E via their website and (866) 743-6589. Residents should only call 9-1-1 if experiencing a medical or life-threatening emergency.
Seniors and vulnerable populations who may be adversely affected by an extended outage can contact Marin County Department of Health and Human Services’ resource line at 415-473-INFO to access available resources.
Emergency management officials remind residents and visitors that it is important to have a plan to adjust daily routines to one without PG&E power. County of Marin recommends the following steps:
Stay informed
- Sign up for AlertMarin notifications to receive information on immediate threats to personal safety or property, tailored to an address of your choosing.
- Watch for wireless emergency alerts if evacuations are ordered, intended to reach all cell phones in the area.
- Sign-up for PSPS ZIP Code Alerts by texting ENROLL to 97633 or by calling 1-877-9000-PGE.
- Update contact information with PG&E online or by calling 1-866-743-6589.
Review plans
- Identify several evacuation routes for your location in case roads are blocked. Tell someone out of the area which routes you plan to use.
- Keep vehicles fueled and ready in case of an evacuation.
- Make a list of what you’ll want to take with you if you leave your home quickly. Consider the Five P’s of Evacuation: People/Pets; Prescriptions; Papers; Personal Needs; Priceless Items.
- Talk to a medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Take stock of batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.
- Take inventory of available supplies such as food, water, clothing, and flashlight batteries.
- Have some cash available in case retail point-of-sale devices are unable to accept credit cards during an outage.
- Check thermometers in refrigerators and freezers during an outage. Dispose of perishable food if the appliance temperature reaches 40 degrees or higher for an extended period.
- Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged.
- Know how to manually open electric garage doors and gates.
For more information, including what to do during a power outage, visit ReadyMarin.
The County will continue to share information updates as they become available via its emergency website and on social media via Facebook and X (Twitter).