LADWP Crews Prepared for Forecasted Rain and Windstorm, Reminds Public of Dangers of Downed Wires

LADWP has launched its newly revamped outage map www.ladwp.com/outages with many new visuals and features to help to better communicate outage information to customers

LOS ANGELES (JANUARY 31, 2024) -Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) crews are prepared to respond to any potential power outages that may occur as a light to moderate rainstorm is forecasted to hit Los Angeles Wednesday night or Thursday morning and continue through the weekend. The Department will monitor the storm system closely and respond accordingly, with the ability to schedule crews to be available around the clock. LADWP call centers will also have additional staffing to accommodate any potential increases in call volume during the storm via 1-800-DIAL-DWP.

LADWP recently revamped its outage website, making it easier to navigate and adding more features. Customers can now see how many customers are without power for a particular neighborhood outage, based on the size of the dot on the map, while its color indicates the status of the outage, ranging from Reportage Outage, Assigned, Crews En Route, and Crews Working. What remains unchanged is the ability for visitors to click on the dot to access additional information regarding a specific outage such as the number of customers without power and the estimated time of restoration. To view the outage map, sign-up for outage alerts, or report an outage, visit www.ladwp.com/outages.

During the storm, winds could blow down large objects such as trees, or cause branches and palm fronds to strike power lines which could cause power outages. This is especially true when soil becomes oversaturated by the rain, causing it to loosen and uproot trees. If that occurs, a crew's first responsibility is to secure the affected area to protect the public from safety hazards posed by downed trees and power lines, followed by the removal of trees entangling LADWP power poles and power lines. Only after this is done can crews begin to conduct repair work and restore power.

In addition to downed trees, flooding and water intrusion into underground electrical systems may also occur, resulting in power outages. When the affected equipment is underground, crews must go from vault to vault to identify the source of the damage before repairs can take place, which can also take time.

In preparation of the rain and in the event of a power outage affecting your community, LADWP recommends customers take the following steps:

• Keep a flashlight and extra batteries nearby. Never use candles in a power outage or other emergency.
• Keep your cellphone fully charged as your cordless "landline" may also lose connectivity during a storm. It will also enable you to access information online.
• Keep a fully charged portable cell phone charger handy in case you need to charge any of your electronics while power is out.

If power does go out:

• Report outages online and track crew status at www.ladwp.com/outagesor by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397).
• Sign up for outage alerts at www.ladwp.com/outagealert.
• Switch off all lights, except for one, so you will know when your power has been restored.
• Keep your refrigerator closed to keep food cold for longer.
• Check on vulnerable friends and neighbors to make sure they are safe.

Follow LADWP via X, formerly known as Twitter, (@ladwp) and on NextDoor for potential outage information and updates.

###

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.