URGENT UPDATE: Nearly a week after a major power outage in San Francisco’s west side, residents of the Sunset and Richmond Districts are still grappling with the aftermath. Many—especially seniors, immigrants, and small business owners—are facing significant challenges as they recover from the darkness that interrupted their lives just before the crucial winter holidays.
As of Friday morning, the Sunset District appeared to be bustling again, but community leaders report that many residents remain frustrated and feeling hopeless. The outage, which lasted for over 50 hours, has had a profound impact on vulnerable populations.
David Lee, Executive Director of the Chinese American Voters Education Committee, highlighted the struggles faced by seniors during the outage. “A lot of them are isolated, many don’t speak English, and they didn’t know where to turn,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Myron Lee described his family’s ordeal without power, noting that his father relies on medical machines at night. “Really stressful for everyone involved,” he said, emphasizing the difficulty residents had in checking on each other due to security gates and disrupted cell service.
The outage struck just before Dongzhi, or the Winter Solstice, a significant holiday for many Asian families. Business owners had stockpiled food and supplies for family gatherings, only to see their goods spoil. “It was a total loss,” Myron Lee lamented.
In response to the widespread distress, PG&E has announced a $200 credit for affected residents and up to $2,500 for businesses that lost inventory or revenue. However, many in the community assert that this compensation falls woefully short of covering their losses. David Lee called for an increase in the credits offered, stating, “Let’s start by increasing the credit that people are getting because $200 doesn’t cut it.”
Authorities are aware of the communication barriers that have exacerbated the situation, especially for monolingual Chinese residents. PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian confirmed that representatives were present at the Richmond Center to address questions in Chinese and that there would be further outreach efforts.
Despite the restoration of power, the emotional toll on the community is palpable. Residents are left to deal with the financial fallout, food spoilage, and the psychological stress of the unexpected outage. Many worry how they will navigate the claims process for additional compensation.
As the situation unfolds, community advocates are calling for the city to create a list of vulnerable residents. “I hope the city is preparing for the next blackout,” David Lee remarked, emphasizing the need for proactive measures.
With the Mission Substation now deemed safe and stable, PG&E continues to support customers still affected by the outage. Generators have been deployed at various substations to provide temporary power until repairs are fully completed.
Residents are urged to utilize the following dedicated customer service lines:
– For Chinese: 1-800-893-9555
– For Spanish: 1-800-660-6789
As the community begins to rebuild, the urgent need for support and communication remains critical. Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops further.
