Living out in the Capay Valley is beautiful. Quiet roads, open space, a tight-knit community. But for the past two weeks, it’s also meant living without power. And we’re not talking about one outage. Residents have dealt with about six of them, leaving homes dark and families frustrated.
PG&E says they’ve recorded 12 separate outages in the area over the last few weeks. The causes range from fallen trees and car accidents to buzzards making contact with power lines and transformer issues. For people like Wyatt Cline, a resident of Guinda, the message is clear.“Just because we’re rural doesn’t mean we don’t have the same problems.”And he’s right. For folks relying on oxygen machines or without backup generators, every outage is a serious safety risk.
In response, the Capay Valley Fire Station has opened its doors as a cooling and charging center from noon to 9 p.m. every day. It’s a practical solution, but residents want a permanent one. With talk of a town hall meeting on the horizon, this community is making sure their voices are heard. Have you experienced repeated outages in your neighborhood? How did you cope? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
