With California bracing for storm-related outages and potential PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric) grid disruptions in December 2025, preparation isn’t optional — it’s essential. After a **major San Francisco blackout that left roughly 130,000 customers without power following a substation fire this month, residents must know how to prepare for outages, stay safe during blackouts, and minimize risks to health and property.
Why This Matters Now: Storms and Grid Stress in California
In late December 2025, the Bay Area and broader parts of Northern California faced powerful winter storms with high winds, heavy rain, and flooding risks that threaten power infrastructure and increase the likelihood of outages. PG&E has activated emergency crews and staged equipment across storm-prone regions to respond quickly, but infrastructure damage from weather events like substation fires or fallen trees can still trigger outages lasting hours or days.
This comes on the heels of a major San Francisco outage, which initially knocked out service to approximately 130,000 customers after a fire at a PG&E substation, disrupting traffic signals, transit systems, businesses and homes during peak holiday activity.
What Happened in San Francisco — And What It Teaches Us
Anatomy of the December 2025 Blackout
On Saturday, December 20, 2025, a fire broke out at a PG&E substation at 8th and Mission streets, triggering one of the largest outages in recent San Francisco history. At its peak, about 130,000 homes and businesses lost electricity, representing roughly one-third of the city’s customers.
Power restoration was gradual:
- Most customers had power back within days as repair crews worked around the clock.
- Final pockets of service were restored early Tuesday morning after about 63 hours of outages.
- PG&E is offering automatic bill credits for affected customers — approximately $200 for residential and $2,500 for businesses.
This incident underscored how aging grid components and extreme weather can intersect to create widespread outages, especially when storms are already hammering the region. NBC Bay Area
How Long Storm-Related Outages Can Last
Outage duration depends on factors like:
- Cause of the outage (storm damage, equipment fire, tree contact)
- Accessibility of infrastructure damage
- Workforce capacities during holidays and extreme weather
Storm or fire-related outages, like the recent SF blackout, can last from several hours up to multiple days, depending on the severity of the damage and environmental conditions. For example, the 2025 SF outage lasted roughly 63 hours for full restoration.
Real-world accounts from residents showed intermittent power returns — back on, then off again — reflecting the chaotic nature of grid stress during severe weather.
Preparing Ahead — What Every California Resident Should Do
Severe weather and grid outages can strike with little warning. Here’s how to prepare effectively:
Step 1 — Build a Preparedness Kit
Before a storm hits, ensure you have these essentials:
- Flashlights and extra batteries (avoid candles due to fire risk)
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio for updates
- Portable power banks for phones and medical devices
- Non-perishable food and manual can opener
- Water (at least 1 gallon per person per day)
- Warm blankets, sleeping bags, or alternative heat sources (safe for indoor use)
- First-aid kit and essential medications
These basics keep you safe and comfortable if outages stretch into multiple days.
Step 2 — Protect Food and Appliances
When a power outage occurs:
- Keep refrigerator/freezer doors closed to maintain cold temperatures longer.
- A full freezer stays colder longer than a half-full one — use coolers with ice if needed.
- Unplug appliances before power is restored to reduce the risk of surges damaging electronics.
Step 3 — Avoid Carbon Monoxide and Fire Hazards
Never use outdoor generators or charcoal grills indoors or near windows; this can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Step 4 — Communicate and Get Alerts
- Sign up for PG&E outage alerts via text or email.
- Follow local emergency services on social media for real-time updates.
- Ensure PG&E has your current contact info for notifications about outages or Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
These notifications help you prepare before a main grid disruption occurs.
Special Considerations for High-Risk Individuals
People depending on electrically powered medical devices or with limited mobility should:
- Register with PG&E’s Medical Baseline program for priority support.
- Have backup power supplies and access to community charging centers.
- Plan for temporary relocation if outages last beyond 24–48 hours.
These steps aren’t bureaucratic — they can save lives during extended outages, especially when storms are impacting wide regions.
How PG&E and Emergency Officials Are Responding
PG&E has activated more than 5,500 frontline workers and contractors in preparation for ongoing storms, positioning crews and equipment strategically to respond to outages quickly.
The company’s Emergency Operations Center remains active, coordinating restoration efforts and safety patrols to assess downed lines and infrastructure damage.
Local officials in San Francisco and across impacted counties also provide:
- Community resource centers offering charging stations and shelter
- Information hotlines (e.g., 211) for assistance with hotel reservations for those without power
What to Expect During Future Outages
Storm-related outages can vary widely in duration and impact:
- Short term (a few hours): Minor weather damage or localized transformer issues
- Moderate (1–2 days): Downed trees or equipment damage
- Extended (multiple days): Major infrastructure failures, substation fires, or network wide issues — like the San Francisco event in December 2025
Understanding this spectrum helps you set realistic expectations and prepare accordingly.
When and How to Report an Outage
If your power goes out:
- Check PG&E’s outage map for status updates.
- Report outages immediately to PG&E online or by phone.
- If you encounter downed power lines, call 911 first, then report to PG&E.
Prompt reporting improves restoration accuracy and speeds repair prioritization.
Conclusion: Expect Outages — But Be Ready
The December 2025 San Francisco blackout — caused by a substation fire and compounded by winter storms — is a stark reminder that California’s grid remains vulnerable, especially during extreme weather.
Immediate risks include:
- Power outages lasting hours to days
- Disruption of traffic signals, transit, and essential services
- Risks of spoiled food, cold homes, and unsafe generator use
Preparation is practical, impactful, and potentially life-saving: build an emergency kit, know safe food and appliance practices, stay informed with alerts, and protect against carbon monoxide hazards.
Editorial Perspective:
Outage seasons will come again. California’s weather extremes and aging grid make outages not just possible but probable. By planning ahead — not after the lights go out — residents can reduce the stress, risks, and secondary harms of power disruptions. Stay informed, stay prepared, and treat outages as community events needing both personal resilience and collective response.
