Lightsticks and battery-operated flashlights and lanterns are the preferred emergency lighting sources. Candles pose a serious fire hazard and are not recommended. If candles are used, be very careful, do not leave unattended, and do not use near combustible material. Have an ABC fire extinguisher nearby. Hurricane and other oil lamps are safer than candles, but should also be used with caution. Lamp oil should be stored in a cool dry place in its original container, tightly sealed.

Do not use camp stoves or barbecues indoors. Camp stoves that use small propane canisters are safer than camp stoves that use liquid fuel (there are also camp stoves that burn wood or charcoal briquettes). Small propane canisters for camp stoves should be stored in an outside shed and not in the garage. Unscrew the canister after each use and do not leave connected. For 5-gallon propane canisters such as for barbecues, the valve on top of the canister should be shut off after each use. Five gallon canisters can leak, so do not refill. Get a new canister instead. Propane canisters have a shelf life of up to 2 years. Check all canisters regularly for rust.

Do not use oven for room heating.

Fireplaces are not a good way to heat the whole house. They are net energy wasters because they draw heat from the rest of the house, and most of the heat they produce goes up the chimney. They also create air pollution and increase fire danger, especially from roof fires. Have a spark arrester chimney cap, and have the chimney cleaned regularly. Newer wood burning (and pellet burning) stoves are more energy and environmentally friendly. They burn cleaner than fireplaces or older model wood stoves. When using a fireplace or a wood stove, do not burn garbage, plywood, or treated wood. Be sure to burn only sustainably produced, well-seasoned wood.

Check for UL listing. Make sure the heater is approved for indoor use and automatically shuts off if tipped over. Do not leave unattended, and do not use near combustible materials.

Kerosene heaters are not recommended. If used, it is important to follow all manufacturer instructions. They should be used only in very well ventilated areas and not near combustible materials. Have a battery operated carbon monoxide detector and an ABC fire extinguisher nearby.

Generators are not recommended. Generators are noisy, expensive, put out exhaust, and can cause spikes and surges that can damage equipment. If used anyway, a generator should not be connected to the home electrical system; instead, individual appliances should be plugged into the generator. If a generator is used, it should be outdoors. If used in a garage, be sure that garage doors and windows are wide open. Most generators run on gasoline. Diesel generators are more expensive to buy and operate.

Gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel storage is similar. Maximum storage is 5 gallons or less in a sealed metal container. Store in a yard shed, not indoors or in the garage. Do not store near any ignition source (such as a water heater, furnace, or automobile) or near combustible materials. Shelf life of stored kerosene and diesel is approximately 12 months. Shelf life of stored gasoline is approximately 6 months. Check metal storage containers frequently for rust. Store the container on a pallet or metal oil drip pan, not on cool moist concrete. Get a new container if there is any sign of rust. Do not store fuels in plastic gasoline containers. Never siphon gasoline out of a vehicle. Ingested gasoline is very toxic.

When using fuel-burning equipment, there is always a danger of fire and of carbon monoxide poisoning. Any fuel burns oxygen, so use any fuel-burning equipment in a well-ventilated area. Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion. It is odorless and kills quickly. Always have an ABC fire extinguisher and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector nearby.

If fuels are past their shelf life, they must be disposed of properly by turning them in to the West County Hazardous Materials Drop Off Center in Richmond. Call for information: 1-888-412-9277.

Public safety agencies such as the Police Department, Fire Department, EMS (Emergency Medical Service, which is ambulance and paramedic service), Dispatch Center (9-1-1 Call Center), and Hospitals are on exempt circuits and will not lose power during a rotating outage. Also on exempt circuits are all joint response and mutual aid agencies, as well as the Office of Emergency Services at the County and State levels. All of these services will be available and operational during power outages, and they are all equipped with emergency back-up power systems.

During power outages, there may be many false alarms from security systems, fire alarms, etc. They will be checked out as they always are.

There are other services on exempt circuits such as some transportation systems, including BART.

There are 14 rotating outage blocks (areas) in the PG&E service area, plus exempt circuits. The rotating outage block appears in the lower left-hand corner of the first page of the monthly bill.

Currently, rotating outages are scheduled to last approximately 1-2 hours per outage block.

Energy emergencies are announced by the ISO (Independent System Operator). In a Stage 1 Alert, electrical reserves are less than 7%. In a Stage 2 Alert, electrical reserves are less than 5%. In a Stage 3 Alert, electrical reserves are less than 1.5%. In a Stage 3 Alert, restrict energy and appliance usage.

PG&E has announced that they will continue their tree trimming program and will respond to power outages caused by storms, accidents, etc.

Treat any downed power line as energized and dangerous. Stay away and call PG&E or the Fire Department.

If natural gas is shut off, only PG&E can reset the meter valve and check the pilot lights. Do not attempt to turn on the gas.