City Hall Protocols for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)

UPDATED 10/25/2024

PSPS Ongoing Maintenance

• Starting during the summer months, Public Works staff will coordinate and confirm that Caltrans has performed the required traffic signal maintenance checks on all signal controllers, batteries, and power transfer switches.
• Public Works staff performs routine maintenance on the existing generators.
• Public Safety staff properly trains City staff for an EOC activation through various hands-on trainings throughout the year.
• Media staff communicate through various channels, the ongoing importance of preparing for emergencies and staying alert for any fire dangers in the community.
• The emergency communication system is advertised and tested.

Phase One – Notification that SCE is Monitoring one or more circuits in Malibu for de- energization

• Identify potentially impacted neighborhoods.
• Identify potentially impacted critical infrastructure (traffic lights, telecommunications, etc).
• City Manager’s Office to notify the City Council.
• Post weather and utility alerts (text and email), on multiple social media accounts, Newsflash (website homepage), Nextdoor, and phone hotline warning the community about any red flag fire conditions, along with fire preparedness information and power outage preparedness information. Messages include:
  • Be prepared for potential power outages, traffic signal outages, fires, evacuation, hazardous road conditions.
  • Monitor weather and emergency information on AM/FM radio, using hand-rank, battery, solar, and car radios, which will function when the power is out.
  • Under California law, come to a complete stop at any intersection with malfunctioning traffic signals. 
  • Links to SCE PSPS outage website.

Note: Messages are scheduled to repeat every day on social media accounts during the PSPS warning period and Red Flag period.

• Place EOC Team on “Alert” status. Alert status means that a heightened awareness is desired. EOC may be opened as a precaution and/or training opportunity but is not officially “activated.” This prompts Department Heads and crucial staff to be on alert and be ready to communicate protocols with staff and prompts Public Works maintenance staff to standby.

• Ensure that the following agencies are aware of the PSPS and what infrastructure may be impacted: Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department, Water District 29, Cal Trans, School District, City street maintenance contractor, wastewater facility operator, and CHP.
• Request that Sheriff Patrols and Volunteers on Patrol (VOP) from Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station are on standby to assist with potential traffic concerns and security in potentially affected neighborhoods.
• Provide information to all staff regarding the potential for PSPS and City Hall protocols for PSPS power outages.
• Stage changeable message boards and other traffic control devices in potentially affected areas.
• Ensure all City and VOP vehicles, as well as EOC personnel vehicles, have a full tank of gas and are ready for operation.
• Ensure hand radios and flashlights are charged and ready for deployment by field staff.
• Public Works staff will fuel emergency generators and prepare for potential deployment.
• Emergency generators will be set up within the City's maintenance yard so that the Public Works staff can access and deploy them quickly.
• Public Works staff will place changeable message boards on PCH at locations where SCE has indicated the electrical circuits will or may be shut off. The changeable message boards will also be placed in locations where known conditions are or are likely to be impacted by any disaster.

Phase Two – Notification that de-energization is imminent or has already occurred on one or more circuits in Malibu

• Establish joint communication among the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Public Safety Director, Emergency Services Coordinator, Media Team, and Public Works Director.
• Identify and confirm impacted critical infrastructure and neighborhoods.
• Post a utility alert and a traffic alert through the Alert Center with information about traffic lights impacted and post notifications on all social media platforms.
• Request resources from Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station to assist with any traffic control and security in effected neighborhoods.
• Maintain frequent communication with Edison, Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, Water District 29, Cal Trans, School District, CHP, City street maintenance contractor, and wastewater facility operator as needed based on the outage area.
• Public Works staff will notify Caltrans that the SCE power is out within a specific circuit and if their traffic signal controller back-up power source is not working.
• Public Works and Public Safety Staff will continue to monitor the PSPS notifications and will provide updates as needed.
• Coordinate availability with VOPs and/or CERT to conduct windshield surveys of impacted areas.
• Identify and respond to existing and potential issues for the duration of the PSPS.

Phase Three – De-energization has occurred on one or more circuits in Malibu and power is likely to be out for 48-72 hours or more

• Consider ordering cell towers on wheels (COWs) if the power outage is widespread.
• Deploy generator resources to city-owned locations as appropriate.
• Activate CERT Team to conduct well-checks and to distribute community information.
• Consider activating a Community Resource Center to assist residents.

Phase Four – De-nergization has occurred and occurs concurrently with a major event such as evacuations

• The City receives notifications from the Sherrif's or LA County Fire Department that an emergency evacuation is occurring or will occur.
• Activation of the EOC.
• Assess staffing availability and prepare a staggered schedule.
• Send disaster notifications as appropriate.
• Activate the CERT Team.
• Activate information stations if appropriate.
• Establish a community resource center to assist the community.
• Public Works staff, if not already performed, will deploy the PW Maintenance Crews to the affected areas.  
• PW Maintenance Staff will connect the emergency generators to the traffic signals affected by a power outage within the evacuation route.
• PW Maintenance Staff will monitor the emergency generators as necessary throughout the emergency evacuation so that the signals are operational. The PW Maintenance Staff will be onsite until the emergency evacuation is complete.

The purpose of the emergency generators is to supply power to the traffic signal controllers when there is an evacuation, power is shut off from SCE, and the existing battery backup system for the signal controller is not operating. The following are the locations where the City has the authority to install emergency generators: 

Phase Five – Re-energization has occurred

• Post utility and traffic update alerts as appropriate on all social media platforms.
• Ensure all city resources that were deployed are returned to their storage location.
• Conduct a debrief meeting including Public Works, Public Safety, Media, and the City Management teams to discuss potential issues and/or future changes.

City Hall Protocols

If a power outage happens during regular business hours and it is understood that the power outage will last more than 1 hour, the following procedures should be followed:

• Public Safety staff will determine the likely duration of the PSPS/outage event.
• Public Safety staff will work with IT and Maintenance staff to assess City Hall functionality (backup power, access to files, telecommunications, and internet)
• The City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager, or designee shall walk through City Hall to assess who is in City Hall and communicate situation information.
• The Multipurpose Room/EOC, which has backup power, will be opened for any staff who can work from a laptop.
• At the discretion of supervisors: 
  • Staff may work from a laptop in the Multipurpose Room/EOC.
  • Staff may go home to work from home.
  • Staff may utilize the time to organize files or engage in other productive activities that do not require power.
  • Staff may be dismissed for the day if conditions warrant.

• Continue to keep City Hall open to provide information to the public.