Beginning Monday evening, December 9, 2024, Borrego Springs experienced
widespread power outages as SDG&E initiated public safety shutoffs due to high fire risk. The outages, impacting all circuits in the area, lasted until approximately 2:30 PM on Wednesday, December 11. With temperatures dropping sharply at night, community members leaned on key resources to navigate the challenges.
Mirage Gas, Dollar General, XL Gas, and the Borrego Springs Library operated on generators—some provided by SDG&E—ensuring essential services were available. The library, designated as an official Community Resource Center, became a vital refuge, offering warm seating, spacious accommodations, Wi-Fi, free ice, water, blankets, charging stations, and meal kits.
Community Resource Center workers were friendly and helpful, encouraging residents to share information so others could access resources. Security was provided for both the library interior and the parking lot, ensuring a safe environment for all. Residents using library services were asked to sign in with their name, address, and contact information.
While Verizon and other phone services remained operational, AT&T users were without service until Wednesday morning, adding another layer of difficulty for some residents. The outages disrupted local events, and some visitors chose to leave early due to the conditions. Despite the challenges, the resilience of the community and the availability of these resources helped Borrego Springs weather this period of uncertainty.
The initial messaging from SDG&E warned residents to prepare for potential outages lasting until 5:30 PM on Friday, December 13, emphasizing the need for extended readiness.
If you feel you lacked access to support or connection during this time, please let us know so we can pass along feedback and help improve future emergency responses through community outreach.
Please feel free to share your experience with us, whether you’d like it posted publicly or kept private. Let us know how we can help pass along your feedback.
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