Power Outages

[SUSAN J. SILVESTRI]

DATE: December 1, 2011 10:13:49 AM PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Power Outage Update 10 AM Thursday, December 1, 2011

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) reports approximately 129,000 of its 1.4 million electric customers are without power as high winds continue to cause outages in several neighborhoods. Approximately 123,400 of these customers are located in the Los Angeles Metro Area and the remaining 5,600 are in the San Fernando Valley.  Current estimated time of restoration for customers experiencing outages is 10 - 12 hours. LADWP currently has over 100 crews responding to over 1,000 separate incidents and are working to restore power as quickly and safely to our customers. We strongly encourage the public to stay away from any downed power line and downed trees and tree limbs.  This is especially important with many children home from school today to keep them safe.  The following areas and neighborhoods have the most number of customers impacted: WESTSIDE Venice: 12,000 Del Rey: 7,700 Westchester: 7,200 Playa del Rey: 2,500 SOUTH: Green Meadows: 5,500 South Los Angeles: 4,800 Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw: 2,400 CENTRAL/ DOWNTOWN Hollywood: 8,700 Hollywood Hills: 5,500 Los Feliz: 5,100 Chinatown: 2,100 EASTSIDE/NORTHEAST Highland Park: 14,700 El Sereno: 9,900 Glassell Park: 8,400 Eagle Rock: 6,600 Lincoln Heights: 4,700 Cypress Park: 4,600 Griffith Park: 4,600 Boyle Heights: 2,000 VALLEY Van Nuys - 2,400 The public and members of the media are encouraged to check the Department’s news site and Twitter page, @LADWP, for updates.  The next outage update will be posted at approximately Noon. In the event of a power outage: Stay calm. Have a flashlight and extra batteries nearby. Don’t use candles in a power outage. Turn off lights but leave one light turned on so you will know when your service is restored. Turn off and unplug appliances and other electrical equipment. Unplug heat-producing items like irons and space heaters. This helps prevent circuit overloading, which could delay restoration of service. Call us and report your outage at 1-800-DIAL DWP (1-800-342-5397). If you encounter a downed power line: Report any downed power lines immediately by calling the LADWP at 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397). If you or someone else is in danger, call 911. Do not touch a downed or dangling wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Always assume a downed line is still energized. If a power line falls on your car, stay in the car and wait for help. If you must get out, make sure you do not touch the metal parts of the car and the ground at the same time. The safest exit method is to open the door, stand on the door sill and jump free without touching the car. Stay away from metal fences, such as chain link fence, as there may be a power line down and touching the fence somewhere beyond your sight. If there is damage to the connection from the power pole to your house, you should go to the electrical box and turn off the main switch or shut off the fuse switch. Again, always assume electric lines are live. In case of an electrical emergency, stay calm and think before you act. Don't become a victim while trying to help others. Call 911. If someone is shocked or not breathing, apply cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR.) Then cover the victim with a blanket, keep their head low and get medical attention. ###