PG&E Says: Brace For A Big Blow

Strong winds are expected to hit the Bay Area over the next two days. Have you taken any precautions?

Post any pictures or video you have of the storm by adding it below.

PG&E is anticipating some power outages if the wind storm produces the 60 mph gusts that weather forecasters are predicting, spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian said this morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a high-wind warning for the Bay Area that will be in effect for Wednesday and Thursday as a dry weather system moves through the region, weather service forecaster Duane Dykema said.

"It's not really what most people would consider a 'storm,'" Dykema said

Rain is not expected, but gusts of 60 to 70 mph are anticipated at higher elevations, with gusts of 40 to 45 mph in lower-lying areas. "It's going to be really blustery almost everywhere," he said.

Public works crews have been in the community clearing catch basins of debris since October, accoridng to Phiroze Wadia, an engineer with the City of Larkspur. PG&E and Marin Municipal Water District crews have also been bracing or winter storms. Wadia advises property owners to trim tree limbs that could pose a hazard.

Of the power outages in PG&E's service area, 13 percent are caused by tree limbs that fall onto power lines. Of those, 90 percent are caused by healthy tree branches, she said.

Residents can call the Twin Cities Police Department or the Larkspur or Corte Madera fire departments in the event of an emergency.

PG&E offers these suggestions to help customers get ready for the oncoming storm:

• If you see a downed power line, assume it is “live” or carrying electric current. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911 and by calling PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.

• Before calling PG&E about an outage, customers should ensure their outage is storm-related by checking their circuit breakers and/or fuse boxes to see whether the problem is limited to the electric system in their home or office, and/or by checking with neighbors to see whether other people are affected.

• Do not use candles because of the risk of fire. If you must use candles, use extreme caution. Do not use candles near drapes, under lampshades or near holiday trees. Keep candles away from small children and do not leave candles unattended.

• If your power goes out, turn off or unplug all electric appliances; otherwise, several appliances may come back on at once and overload your circuits when power is restored. Hot appliances also pose a fire hazard if they come back on while you’re away or asleep. Leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.

• Have battery-operated radios with fresh batteries ready for updates on storm conditions and power outages.

• Have battery-operated flashlights with fresh batteries on hand.

• Have a cell phone or hard-wire, single-line telephone on hand. Cordless phones will not work without electricity.

• Fill used liter-size plastic soda bottles with water and place them in the freezer. During an extended outage, transfer them to your refrigerator to prevent food from spoiling. Open the refrigerator only when necessary to keep warm air out and cooler air in.

• If you have a generator, inform PG&E and do not use it unless it is installed safely and properly. If it is not, you risk damaging your property and endangering yourself and PG&E line workers who may be working on nearby power lines.

Let us know what problem areas you think will be bad? Or if you see a problem, report it. And, post any photos or video you have of the storm.

- Bay City News contributed to this report.