City Plans Info Centers During PSPS Blackouts
Written by 991KBU on July 30, 2019
Malibu officials are practicing setting up emergency information stations as part of community-wide emergency preparedness efforts.
Southern California Edison is promising to shut off the electricity during severe red flag conditions … and when that happens it will take the internet down most everywhere.
The city is planning a Points of Distribution program … they call it the POD program.
Mayor Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner has put out a news release … which points out that phones and computers won’t connect when Southern California Edison turns out the electricity.
Under the PSPS program … SCE will cut off power during high winds this fall.
The City objects to the PSPS plan, but it is likely that it will be implemented at some point during fire season.
Wagner says “We need to have practical, low-tech solutions that will work without electricity, computers and cell phones.”
A POD is a location where community members can obtain basic emergency information … along with emergency supplies.
The emergency information stations are part of a broad effort by the City Manager and Public Safety Manager to distribute critical emergency information to the Malibu community during disasters if electricity and cell phone services are out.
Earlier this month … CERT Team leaders and City staff trained other CERT volunteers on procedures and protocols for setting up a POD with an emergency information station.
The bins include bullhorns, pop-up tents, “Disaster Information” signage, and bulletin boards for displaying printed material.
During a long-term power outage, printed public information will be brought out to the boards one or more times a day.
In addition to the bulletin boards, the City will put out emergency information on KBUU 99.1 FM, Malibu’s only locally operated radio station.
The city and the radio station are setting up a direct link and a protocol … which will give the city direct access to the KBUU transmitter in emergencies.
KBUU is currently completing construction of a solar battery array at its transmitter …. and has solar and batteries at its two microwave sites and at the studios.
Anyone with an FM radio … whether battery, solar or crank powered, or in a car … could tune in to get emergency information.
