If your power goes out, turn off or even unplug all electric appliances. Otherwise, when power is restored, several appliances may come back on at once and overload your circuits or hot appliances may come on while you’re away or asleep and pose a fire hazard. Leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.

If you see a downed power line, assume it is “live” or carrying electric current. Do not touch or try to move it – and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines and other electric emergencies immediately by calling 911 and PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-PGE-5000. Here are a few more suggestions from PG&E to help power customers before and during a storm: Have a battery-operated radio with fresh batteries ready for updates on storm conditions and power outages. Keep battery-operated flashlights on hand and have a cell phone or hard-wire, single-line telephone in your home. Cordless phones will not work without electricity.