San Andreas, CA…Calaveras County OES is taking part in a full scale exercise with PG&E to exercise our readiness for possible PSPS events. From our Partners @ PG&E: This week, on Friday, May 28, PG&E will be conducting aerial patrols of power lines in Calaveras County. We will be flying helicopters in the Arnold area on Friday between the hours of 7:00am and 2:00pm. This part of the PSPS Exercise; NO DE-ENGERIZATION WILL TAKE PLACE!

The flights are part of a company-wide Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) preparedness exercise we are conducting. No PSPS power shutoffs will happen, but PG&E’s emergency response organization is conducting the readiness drill to help us be better prepared for actual events.

As part of the exercise, PG&E crews are patrolling circuits that could be affected if a PSPS becomes necessary this fall. The patrols will be conducted by crews on the ground and by using low-flying helicopters. Customers may notice increased activity between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday.

Given the continued and growing threat of extreme weather and wildfires, we are expanding and enhancing our Community Wildfire Safety Program (https://www.pge.com/…/community-wildfire-safety.page…) to further reduce wildfire risks and help keep our customers and the communities we serve safe.

During an actual PSPS event, crews will inspect de-energized lines utilizing aircraft, vehicles, and foot patrols to identify and repair damage before restoring power.

The sole purpose of a PSPS is to reduce the risk of major wildfires during severe weather. With nearly one-third of PG&E electric lines in high fire-threat district areas, PSPS is an important tool for keeping customers and communities safe.

For more information about preparing for a PSPS event or any natural disaster, visit PG&E’s Safety Action Center: https://www.safetyactioncenter.pge.com/ or https://psps.calaverasgov.us/

For more information on wildfire preparedness, please visit: https://oes.calaverasgov.us/Wildfire