CURRENT SITUATION:
- Per National Weather Service: Wind gusts are expected to reach 50-60 mph by noon, with particularly strong gusts near 80 mph in Boulder around 6 p.m..
- High winds pose various risks and challenges to our community. High winds elevate the risk of wildfires.
- Travel conditions will become hazardous due to blowing dust and debris, potentially leading to downed trees and power lines, scattered power outages, and damage to property such as fences, shingles, and siding.
- Xcel Energy plans to proactively de-energize power lines in certain areas within Boulder County, starting today at 3 p.m., lasting into Sunday. This measure is a last resort aimed at mitigating wildfire risks and ensuring public safety. The decision to re-energize power lines will be made only after thorough visual inspections and assurance of safe conditions by qualified personnel from Xcel Energy.
- Outage restoration times will be contingent upon the extent of damages caused by the wind event. Xcel Energy will be notifying customers who will be affected by these proactive power shut-offs. They urge customers, especially those relying on electrical medical equipment, to prepare for potential extended outages by taking necessary precautions. If you think you will be impacted and have medical power needs, please plan ahead, and get your personal plan of action in place.
To ensure the safety of yourself and our community during high winds, we recommend the following precautions:
Sign up for alerts through BOCO Alert or ReachWell and have a personal preparedness plan ready, including evacuation procedures and essential items. Trust your instincts and take immediate action if you perceive any danger. Refrain from activities that may produce sparks. If possible, avoid travel, as blowing dust and debris can create hazardous road conditions.
For further updates and information, please visit the National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov/bou/
Build a Home Emergency Kit
- Battery-powered radio
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Backup phone chargers
- A phone that does not require electricity
- Nonelectric alarm clock
- Bottled water and non-perishable food
- Manual can opener
- First aid kit
- Extension cords (for partial outages)
- Manufacturer’s instructions on how to manually open power-operated doors (e.g., garage doors)
- Xcel Energy phone numbers – (800) 895-1999 for residential or (800) 481-4700 for business
Report your outage
Xcel customers can get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages. Customers have several ways to report outages.
- Through the My Xcel Energy mobile app, available in the Apple App Store and through Google Play.
- Online at com/out
- Via text by texting OUT to 98936 to report an outage, or text STAT to the same number to check the status of a power outage
- By calling 1-800-895-1999 and following the prompts—the automated phone reporting system lets customers report outages in less than 60 seconds. Once the cause of the problem is identified, the system or an Xcel Energy representative will provide customers with an estimated restoration time when available.
Stay informed
If outages occur, it’s important for Xcel customers to have access to the most recent updates about their power restoration. Customers can stay informed by using the My Xcel Energy mobile app or visiting the Xcel Energy website. The website hosts an outage map that displays information on the number of customers out and anticipated time for restoration when available. Customers can also stay informed by following Xcel Energy on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.
Comments are closed.