Update: Higher Elevation Communities Still Impacted By Power Outages
Update at 4:00pm: While the Arnold area presents special challenges PG&E is hoping to have Groveland and Long Barn power outage areas restored late tonight. Areas of Mi Wuk Village, Pinecrest and Twain Harte may remain out until Friday due to falling trees have made conditions unsafe for crews to access the damage.
PG&E reports they are working around the clock to restore power to customers in Calaveras County, including 4,600 customers in Arnold. PG&E has 66 crews working in the area, including crews they brought in from Kern County and Marysville. PG&E has identified damage in 450 locations from wind, heavy rains and snow, combined with access issues including blocked and very narrow roads that have made restoration challenging. In some cases, PG&E crews have to rebuild portions of entire circuits, including removing broken poles and downed wire, and installing newer poles and powerlines. Residents and PG&E crews are using one-lane roads, and appreciate residents’ patience during this difficult time. Estimated times of restoration range from today to Friday and Saturday, depending on the extent of the damage.
PG&E is supporting the warming centers opened by Calaveras OES. This week they made a donation of 1,000 blankets, a pallet of water and 500 batteries to help local citizens. Residential customers who are without power for more than 48 hours due to a severe event may qualify for Storm Inconvenience Payments under the Safety Net Program. Visit this website to learn more.
Update at 9:25am: The Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services reports Sierra Parkway Rd is now closed from Chief Fuller down to Muheli Rd. There will also be other roads within that area that will be intermittently closed to allow for Emergency Repair vehicles. All closures will allow for access by residents only.
Original story posted at 6:13am: Mi Wuk Village, CA — Clean up continues early this week in the Confidence, Mi Wuk Village and Long Barn areas following last week’s storm system.
PG&E reports that there are around a thousand without power due to various outages. Trees are down in many areas and there are emergency road closures on Lama Road and a portion of Middlecamp Road from Highland to Michigan. County officials over the weekend were urging people to move cars off the roadways so snowplows could get through.
Arnold is also similarly hit by power outages with around a thousand without electricity. PG&E is hoping to have most outages restored by late tonight.
Another storm system is heading this way. Click here to view the latest advisories from the National Weather Service.