Power outage hits 1,700 customers in Santa Rosa, including Kaiser Medical Center

The outage was mostly resolved by 4 p.m., though Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center was still without power Wednesday evening.|
CHRISTI WARREN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

More than 1,700 PG&E customers were left without power Wednesday afternoon, after an underground power line failed.

The outage began about 11:30 a.m., and affected a large swath of northeastern Santa Rosa, including Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, where an emergency diesel generator kicked in to keep the hospital’s necessary instruments connected.

While power was restored to the majority of customers by 4 p.m., it remained out at the hospital Wednesday evening, with no estimate for when it would be restored.

“The lighting is diminished but on,” said Dr. Joshua Weil, assistant physician in chief for the hospital’s operations. “The ICU, ventilators, operating rooms all have essential equipment on.”

The hospital’s emergency generator has up to four days of diesel fuel, he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.

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