It is with great empathy and shared frustration that I send this email. As of today (3/15/23) at 1:10pm, there are again widespread power outages in Menlo Park (see PG&E outages map below).
While the heavy winds yesterday are largely responsible for knocking out the power, not just in Menlo Park, but throughout the region, the level of communication from PG&E about when power will be restored is unacceptable. Please know that the City of Menlo Park is in close contact with PG&E, and also the offices of State Senator Josh Becker, and Assemblymembers Marc Berman and Gina Papan.
As outlined in the City's official update below, there is no reliable ETA from PG&E on when power will be restored. I am getting reports from some residents that they are being told from PG&E that power won't be restored until Friday! Given our experiences with the last round of outages, and the shifting nature of the PG&E estimations of power restoration, I would make plans now. That is, if are not comfortable in your home, and you have a place to go (a friend or family's, a hotel, etc.), I would go. (Note: This is not an official City position, this is my own, personal advice.) For those of you without somewhere to go, or who lack the resources or ability to go somewhere, please see the City's update below on ways to seek help. The link to PG&E's Safety Net Program is here, and the City of Menlo Park will be updating its Storm Information page (menlopark.gov/stormupdate) by 3pm today about the City's ability to offer hotel reimbursements again. The City will also be keeping the libraries open late this evening until 10pm for those needing to stay warm and charge devices (see below).
To those of you who have power, please consider reaching out to friends and neighbors who live in other parts of Menlo Park who are impacted, to offer them a place to stay, or a place to spend a few hours. Our community is stronger when we help one another.
Also please be careful on the roads (some traffic lights are still not working - treat as 4-way stops), and be good to yourself and one another.
Warmly,
P.S. Tomorrow (3/16) there will be a community forum on the power outages of February 21st to the 24th (note: this was organized before the current outages).The forum will be jointly hosted by East Palo Alto Mayor Lisa Gauthier, Assemblymember Diane Papan, Senator Josh Becker, Supervisor Warren Slocum, the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management and PG&E.
The forum will focus on the following:
Review of the causes of the power outages
Process for restoring power
How, what, and when outage information was communicated
Existing options to coordinate among local agencies and potential improvements that can be considered
Reimbursements for losses that are available to community members and how to access them
Local residents are invited to provide comments and ask questions of PG&E and local leaders. This is a hybrid meeting and participants can join online or in person.
P.P.S. I want to acknowledge the suggestions/comments I have been receiving from residents about wanting to underground utility lines and/or have the City of Menlo Park operate its own electric utility company (like Palo Alto). There are definitely conversations for our community to have going forward.
Official Update from the City of Menlo Park
As of 1:04pm on 3/15/23
March 15 storm update - Storm cleanup is underway; power outages persist
Late yesterday the winds finally calmed and crews were able to begin to catch up on the nearly 70 storm-related calls, mostly due to downed trees and tree branches. At least 30 separate trees came down across the city causing multiple street closures and power outages. Public Works crews worked aggressively to reopen streets and clear debris, but the overall storm cleanup will take days. Storm damage can be widely seen across the city. The fence at the ball park at Nealon Park was damaged and the dog park there will remain closed until repairs can be made.
Please check the latest street closure and traffic signal outages using the Zonehaven map. Ongoing power outages may continue to cause periodic traffic signal outages. Please drive carefully and treat any signal that is flashing or out as a stop sign. City crews have placed temporary stops signs at intersections where possible.
Extended power outages
PG&E continues to work to restore power and this morning several areas of the Belle Haven and Willows neighborhoods came back online. The City of Menlo Park is closely monitoring large sections of remaining outages across the rest of the city. City staff have been in contact with multiple representatives at PG&E and continue to press them for updates and restoration timelines. We know how frustrating it is to be without the information and we all want to see power restored as safely and and quickly as possible.
PG&E Safety Net program
Residential customers may qualify for PG&E's Safety Net program which offers:
Payments to residential customers who are without power for more than 48 hours due to a severe events, like storms (as determined by PG&E).
The Safety Net program, pays $25 to $100 automatically 60 to 120 days after the outage. The amount may depend on the outage length.
City of Menlo Park one-night hotel stay reimbursement policy for PG&E power outages
The City of Menlo Park is evaluating its policy for one-night hotel stay reimbursements related to extended PG&E power outages. If this outage event extends into Thursday evening, March 16, updated information about potential reimbursements will be posted to the city website (this storm update page) by 3 p.m., Thursday, March 16.
Menlo Park libraries to remain open extended hours
For those without power or needing a place to recharge, Menlo Park libraries will remain open extended hours until 10 p.m., Wednesday, March 15, and reopen again at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 16. These facilities are climate-controlled and offer seating, reading materials, laptop computers, places to charge mobile devices, and public access internet and Wi-Fi. Visit menlopark.gov/library or call 650-330-2520.
Belle Haven Branch Library
413 Ivy Drive
Menlo Park Library
800 Alma St.
Avoid unstable creek banks; soil can collapse unexpectedly
Saturated soils along the banks of San Francisquito Creek along Woodland Avenue continue to make creek banks unstable and hazardous. Additional areas along the entire length of the creek banks may pose hazards, so please observe the creek from a safe distance and monitor creek levels online at menlopark.gov/creeklevels.
To monitor San Francisquito Creek water levels online, visit the creek monitor site from the City of Palo Alto.
To monitor the Atherton Channel, check the Atherton Channel sensor on the OneShoreline website.
Report issues promptly
For blocked storm drains, sink holes, landslides, levee damage and fallen trees, call Public Works at 650-330-6780 weekdays from 7 a.m.–4 p.m. and at 650-330-6300 after-hours.
For sewer problems, call West Bay Sanitary District at 650-321-0384.
Please do not call 9-1-1 unless there is an imminent threat to life or other serious emergency. For general questions, consider texting the city at 650-679-7022.
