State lawmakers learned about the County’s response to the massive Sept. 8 power outage at a hearing this afternoon.
Ron Lane was the Director of the Office of Emergency Services during the blackout and provided details about how the events unfolded, impacts to the public and lessons learned.
“This blackout revealed much about the strength and character of our San Diego County community,” said Lane. “Law enforcement reported no significant incidents of looting or other crime, despite complete darkness in our cities. Neighbors came together to look after their neighborhoods and each other.”
The County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services, also known as OES, is responsible for coordinating the regional response to disasters, working with all 18 cities within the county as well as emergency response partners and impacted agencies.
Lane was among regional officials who presented preliminary findings about the September 8 blackout to the State Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management at City of San Diego Council Chambers. Lane provided testimony as part of a panel about emergency response to the power outage. Other panels focused on utilities, wireless communications and wastewater.
Some initial findings by OES include:
- OES’ first priority focused on stabilizing and addressing immediate safety issues such as traffic intersections, elevator entrapments, hospitals, health care facilities, and other critical lifelines.
- Another main focus was sharing accurate and timely information to the public through news releases, social media updates, the emergency website and two evening news conferences.
- Fire and police departments reported that they were able to maintain 911 and dispatch operations during the blackout using backup generators. Call volume increased to as much as triple daily averages.
- The San Diego Police Department, Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies increased staffing to provide traffic control and additional street patrols.
- Widespread traffic signal outages raised the issue of backup battery capability of signals.
- The Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties advised that all hospitals were able to operate normally, although they did experience the challenge of increased volume to local emergency rooms by residents dependent on oxygen and respirator equipment.
- The effectiveness of AlertSanDiego, one of the region’s reverse 911 systems, was severely diminished during because many residents only have cordless phones that require electricity to work, highlighting the need for residents to maintain a landline in their homes.
- Traffic signal outages impacted both bus and rail operations, and the San Diego Trolley system was not able to operate because it depends on electricity.
- San Diego International Airport advised that it has backup generation to provide safe conditions during a power outage, but passengers cannot be processed.
- The power outage impacted the pipeline that brings most gasoline and diesel fuel to the county. This did not lead to a shortage, but residents couldn’t access fuel because commercial gas stations need electricity to operate their gas pumps.
- ATMs and credit card machines did not have power to operate, highlighting the need for residents to have cash available in case of an emergency.
- The medical examiner reported no deaths attributed directly to the blackout.
- Residents are urged to prepare for a blackout or other disaster by having flashlights and a radio with working batteries on hand, having at least one landline within the residence in the event that cell phones and cordless phones are not operable, and having a 72-hours worth of supplies such as food, water and cash in the event of a major disaster.
Get more preparedness tips at ReadySanDiego.org.
