SAN FRANCISCO
PG&E supports customers, communities impacted by August wildfires in Northern California
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced today an initial set of charitable commitments totaling $150,000 to support residents displaced and impacted by recent wildfires across Northern California. PG&E’s charitable funding will be allocated to the following organizations to support shelter activations, food bank operations, and other relief programs:
- $100,000 to the American Red Cross’ California Wildfire Relief Fund for shelters and community support
- $50,000 to the California Association of Food Banks’ Rapid Response Fund to support food insecurity relief
Additionally, The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The Foundation) has committed to matching up to $50,000 in PG&E employee contributions to wildfire relief. The Foundation will match employee contributions to five featured charities supporting wildfire assistance. The employee contributions and 1:1 matching funds total up to $100,000 in support. The featured nonprofits include local community foundations and other organizations that are providing ongoing support to wildfire impacted communities throughout PG&E’s service area.
In total, the PG&E, employee and The Foundation contributions will provide up to $250,000 in charitable funding in this first phase of emergency relief to communities impacted by wildfires in 2020.
“There are so many people in our communities who need help right now as these devastating wildfires continue to burn,” said Robert Kenney, PG&E Vice President, Regulatory and External Affairs. “PG&E is grateful for the services that the American Red Cross, the California Association of Food Banks, and other organizations are providing, and we are here to support them. We also appreciate our employees who have a long and generous history of giving back to communities in need.”
In PG&E’s service area, the Red Cross has opened more than a dozen facilities in the Santa Cruz area, and portions of the North and Central Valleys. Customers can visit www.redcross.org/shelter to find available locations near them.
For the past week, PG&E has been onsite and working around the clock with first responders, local agencies and CAL FIRE in communities impacted by wildfires.
These charitable donations will come from PG&E shareholders, employees and The Foundation, not PG&E’s customers.
PG&E Reminds Customers to Prepare for Emergencies
PG&E is reminding its customers to get ready for natural disasters before they happen. Among the actions PG&E encourages its customers to take:
- Prepare an emergency plan and conduct an emergency drill with your family.
- Prepare an evacuation plan for your home. Each room should have at least two ways to escape in case one is blocked. Establish a place where your family can reunite.
- Update your contact information with PG&E so the company can contact you with important safety alerts and updates during wildfire season.
- Establish an alternative way to contact others who are not home, such as an out-of-the-area telephone contact.
- Prepare and maintain an emergency preparedness kit with enough supplies on hand to be self-sufficient for at least three days, and preferably up to one week.
- Know where the main electric switch is and how to turn off your electric supply.
Customers can find more tips at www.pge.com/wildfiresafety.
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LAKE COUNTY
Unhealthy to Hazardous Air Quality in Lake County
The smoke and haze within Lake County has impacted all areas of the Lake County Air Basin. The winds and overnight cooling is trapping the smoke from the Walbridge Fire in Sonoma County, the LNU Lightning Complex in Lake, Napa, Yolo, and Solano Counties, and the August Complex in the Mendocino National Forest.
All areas of Lake County should be prepared for continuing periods of “UNHEALTHY” to “HAZARDOUS” conditions. Conditions may start to improve as the forecast winds shift from the Southwest to West Northwest, bringing clearer air into the region. The slight change in regional wind patterns can significantly reduce the basin wide smoke impacts. Smoke is still expected to intermittently impact the Air Basin until all of the regional fires are contained. This forecast is based on the latest weather, monitoring, fire activity information and will be updated as necessary.
The District is actively monitoring the smoke impacts throughout the County. Additionally, you may go to WWW.LCAQMD.NET and follow the link to ‘Current Air Quality Index at: purpleair.com‘ for current Air Quality Index (AQI) levels and particulate matter levels around the County. Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the “UNHEALTHY” range. At “UNHEALTHY” levels, everyone needs to take steps to protect themselves from exposure.
Concentrations of smoke may vary depending upon location, weather, and distance from the fire.
These sensitive populations should stay indoors and avoid prolonged activity.
Follow these general precautions to protect your health during a smoke event:
• Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise.
• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible.
• Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside – examples include swamp coolers, whole-house fans, and fresh air ventilation systems.
• Run your air-conditioner only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors. Change the standard air conditioner filter to a medium or high efficiency filter. If available, use the “re-circulate” or “recycle” setting on the unit.
• Do not smoke, fry food, or do other things that will create indoor air pollution.
If you have lung disease (including asthma) or heart disease, closely monitor your health and contact your doctor if you have symptoms that worsen.
Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you have respiratory conditions.
Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace advises: “While we know that this is an added burden for everyone who has been dealing with the risks from COVID for all of these months, we definitely encourage folks to pay attention to the air quality and to take steps to protect themselves and their families.”
Updated guidance from the CDC is available on reducing wildfire smoke exposure given COVID-19 considerations: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/covid-19/reduce_exposure_to_wildfire_smoke_covid-19.html
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