Over 1,200 readers have shared damage and progress reports over the past few days. For seven days now, over 13,500 customers in Nevada County (down from 32,000+ at the height of the outages) have been without power. The majority has little to no heat or water. Communication lines, both landlines and cable/fiber are down, leaving many with no ability to reach out and call 911 in an emergency or 211 for immediate needs. Propane tanks are running low, as are woodpiles (good news on firewood, read on.)

The red dots are initial reports, blue squares are updates starting on Jan. 1, 2022.

In their own words, residents shared what’s going on right now.

“Need propane to power oxygen equipment. They did come out on Christmas day, but it is getting really low now. Also, it’s really cold 🥶 in our house.”

“We’re running out of firewood, also the entryway to our front door is blocked by tree branches. We will be working on cutting up the branches today, Sunday.”

“Our road called Bear TRAP Springs road is very heavy with snow and we cannot get out to get food.”

“Stuck at now day 7 without power with 84 yr old grandma who’s in a wheel chair.”

“Filling out for my elderly sister. No cell. She is technology challenged. Electrical lines down. Electric box and pipes on house ripped off by downed lines. 100 trees down, fences down. ATT landline down (on local service only phone). No way to call 911 or 211 since first day of storm. PGE said Jan. 10 for power. Electrician can’t come until very long drive and road are cleared of snow and said 6 to 8 weeks to assess damage.”

“Outage for one week in senior neighborhood. Isolated group of 42 homes on Butterfly Dive and Mayflower off of Banner Lava Cap.”

“Two 80+ year old people live in this house. It is all electric, they have have no heat, can’t cook hot meals. 50+ degrees in the house, These folks need electricity…..STAT!!”

“No power, out of propane , left our home on Thursday due to freezing cold, staying with a friend at LWW! My husband is 91 and I’m 81”

“We have no heat source and it’s been 44 in our house for 6 days now.”

“In Forest Springs Mobile Home Park which is a senior park. Into day 7 with no power. Very challenging and hard on older folks. Lots without heat. Neighbors helping neighbors as we have heard nothing from park management. Fire rescue/ambulance have been called to our park at least 6 times.
Has PGE forgotten us?!”

As always, neighbors are helping neighbors.

“I’m going to her place right now to fill up a bunch of 5-gal jugs with Bitney Springs water to bring to her right now before the crowds of people hit Bitney Springs.”

“Neighbors on our street did an amazing job keeping our street plowed and dealing with trees in the road or tangled in power lines.”

“Thanks to the fire department for clearing the trees and debris on the power line yesterday. Everyone on the street was able to get out with their cars for supplies and get to their jobs for the first time in days. Thank you to all the people connecting resources, manning the phones, checking up on those in need and providing food and shelter.”

“My neighbors and I here in Shady Glen Mobile Home Park have really helped each other out. I’ve shoveled a lot of snow for people even unstuck a vehicle so the gentleman could go get his meds. The Young Man that works for the park has been working extra hard going door to door checking on residents.”

“We tied the powerlines out of the way so that the road can be passable. Three families with small kids were trapped – (going on 6 days) so…. Now we can get past the power lines and get food, water, gas, what ever we need to be safe. The road is a quarter mile long and we only have a shovel. The top portion was plowed so I think I have about a tenth of a mile left to shovel.”

The damage from down trees and broken poles in some areas like Alta Sierra is described as “a warzone,” or “as if a hurricane had gone through.” PG&E has 30 crews and 3 helicopters working to assess and restore power today, with 15 additional crews arriving tomorrow.

County task force crews, composed of public works, Search and Rescue, PG&E, CAL FIRE and AT&T have managed to check in on most residents. All county roads are now open, while there are still trees in several locations, the roads are traversable. Private roads are being cleared by contractors hired by the county. Yesterday, they focused this effort on the areas from Banner to You Bet where private roads were still blocked and residents needed access. Areas off You Bet, Greenhorn, Idaho-Maryland have been completed. 

As of today, residents can pick up free firewood at the following locations:

  • Eric Rood Center: 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City
  • First Baptist Church (Overnight Shelter): 1866 Ridge Rd, Grass Valley
  • North San Juan Fire Station 3: 13200 Tyler Foote Rd, Nevada City
  • Peardale Chicago Park Fire Station 57: 18934 Colfax Hwy, Gras Valley
  • Cascade Shores: next to General Store at 16552 Pasquale Rd, Nevada City
  • Banner Mountain: Location TBD
  • Town of Washington Fire Station: 15406 Washington Rd, Washington
  • Alta Sierra Fire Station 89: 11833 Tammy Way, Grass Valley

Perishable food disposal sites:

  • Eric Rood Administration Center – 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City (behind the jail)
  • Nevada County Operations Center – 12350 La Barr Meadows, Grass Valley
  • Condon Park – 544 Butler Street, Grass Valley
  • DeVere Mautino Park – 10609 Alta Street, Grass Valley

Overnight shelters

First Baptist Church
1866 Ridge Rd, Grass Valley, CA 95945
Supported by Red Cross

Open Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Service animals allowed. No pets allowed.

Includes:

  • Heat
  • Power & charging stations
  • Food
  • Showers

Please call 211 at 1-833-DIAL211 for additional transportation information. 

Nevada City Veterans Hall (lower level)
415 North Pine Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
Supported by Sierra Roots

Open through Tuesday morning.

Includes:

  • Heat
  • Power & charging stations
  • Food
  • Beds and blankets

Please call 211 at 1-833-DIAL211 for additional transportation information.

Daytime Warming Centers (PG&E Community Resource Center)

Madelyn Helling Library
980 Helling Way, Nevada City, CA 95959
Supported by PG&E

 Open 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Includes:

  • Heat
  • Power & charging stations
  • Snacks, water & ice
  • Beds and blankets
  • Wi-Fi