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No Easy Solution

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Hopefully it’s a decision that never needs to be made. But if SDG&E’s application for an emergency power shut off during extreme “red flag” conditions is approved, it could impact up to 28,000 Ramonans—-and we all need to be prepared.

As part of SDG&E’s Community Fire Safety Program, the utility has proposed increased inspections on power lines and poles, vegetation management and tree trimming, replacing old wooden poles with steel, staging crews in danger areas during “red flag” weather conditions and also having the power to turn off the power during these “red flag” weather conditions, which could last up to 72 hours. Turning the power off not only effects the ability to pump water to help fight a fire but also has many other health and safety issues. What do we do with kids in school, how about the elderly and others who are on life support or have medical conditions that require certain care and don’t have a backup plan if this happens, not to mention the financial aspects of businesses having to close, etc. For the most part, it again comes down to you and me. If you’re in a high risk area or even if you’re not, make sure you’ve cleared vegetation etc. away from you house; if you’re going to need power, get a generator or have a back up plan in place. Everyone who lives here knows the inherent danger of living in the country and this includes our local water district. Even though they have protested SDG&E’s application along with other water districts, there needs to be a plan in place in case this does happens. There’s no time to argue, and none to blame. There is no easy solution, but there’s nothing stopping us (except for ourselves) from putting a comprehensive plan in place to take care of Ramona, and this needs to be done now.

Jeff Mitchell

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