Winnie the Pooh was nowhere to be seen, but it was certainly a blustery day in Turlock Monday.
For most Turlockers the wind was a mere inconvenience, but for some households and businesses the stormy weather led to downed trees, broken fences, and lengthy power outages.
Monday's wind led directly to four power outages in the Turlock Irrigation District service area, according to TID spokesperson Herb Smart, including two in Turlock.
The area of South Rose Street, Berkeley Avenue, and F Street saw the electricity cut out at around 8 a.m., when a tree fell damaging poles and electrical equipment. Power was restored around 3:15 p.m.
A large part of South Turlock was also without power for about an hour Monday afternoon, from roughly 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
“Wind was either confirmed to be the cause or was likely a contributing factor in all the outages,” Smart said.
Monday's strong winds, with gusts to 33 miles per hour and steady 21 mile per hour breezes, felled fragile and untrimmed trees across Turlock. When limbs fall onto power lines, circuits can be tripped or equipment can be broken.
“Untrimmed trees and their limbs can wreak havoc on power lines, especially overhead service lines leading from wood poles directly to individual homes and businesses,” Smart said.
TID recommends keeping vegetation trimmed, well away from electrical lines. Should trees or other foliage get too close to power lines, Smart said to call TID at (209) 883-8301 to de-energize the lines before trimming to avoid electric shock.
Though the City of Turlock may own trees in roadside easements – usually five feet from the sidewalk or 10 feet from the curb in areas with no sidewalk – it is the responsibility of homeowners to maintain those street trees. But replacing, treating, or pruning those trees requires a free City of Turlock Tree Permit.
To report a TID outage, call (209) 883-8301. Downed power lines should be reported by calling 911, as downed lines may still be electrified and dangerous.
For more information on TID outages, visit www.tid.com/outages/. For more tips on dealing with wind or storms, visit www.tid.com/storms/.
For more information on Turlock street tree maintenance and permits, visit http://www.turlock.ca.us/citydepartments/parksrecreationfacilities/publicfacilities/streetmaintenance/.
