Le’Troy Andrews, a 74-year-old former Air Force medic, endured a challenging night during a recent power outage in San Francisco that left many residents, particularly seniors, feeling isolated and vulnerable. Andrews, who has health concerns including congestive heart failure and recent brain surgery, had to crawl from his bedroom to his front door in order to let paramedics into his apartment in the Inner Richmond. He experienced stroke-like symptoms after being without power, which prevented him from using his CPAP machine for sleep apnea.
The outage occurred on Saturday night following a fire at a PG&E substation, affecting about a third of San Francisco’s residents. While many regained power later that evening, many areas in the Richmond continued to be without electricity into Sunday night. By Monday evening, power had almost fully restored.
During the outage, senior residents in Outer Richmond faced significant hardships, particularly those living on the top floors of buildings without elevators. Many were ill-prepared, lacking essential items such as charged mobile phones, flashlights, and backup batteries. Without emergency lighting or a reliable stairwell, many found themselves trapped in their homes. A compassionate younger resident stepped in to help, rallying support for those in need by charging their phones and procuring portable power banks despite the downpour.
Meanwhile, 72-year-old Christina Cordi, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and relies on refrigerated medicine, faced the risk of having her medications spoiled. Thankfully, through cooperation with neighbors, she was able to devise a makeshift icebox to preserve her vital supplies.
Many residents reported feeling cut off from critical updates, as city outreach relied heavily on social media, leaving those without phones or connectivity uninformed. For example, residents were unaware of the availability of emergency hotel stays that officials communicated through platforms such as Instagram. When PG&E set up a resource center at the Richmond Rec Center, numerous seniors were unable to access it due to a lack of information on transportation.
As confusion reigned, building managers incorrectly believed their properties still had power based on PG&E’s outdated maps, which led to delayed responses and inadequate support for tenants. The miscommunication raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of the electrical company’s information and the overall preparedness of seniors living alone.
Looking ahead, residents are taking proactive steps to prevent another crisis. They are buying batteries, stocking up on non-perishable food items, and preparing to stay connected to ensure they are more equipped for any future outages.
The supportive actions of neighbors during the outage highlighted the importance of community cooperation in times of crisis, underlining that when faced with adversity, compassion and solidarity can help individuals navigate through the toughest situations.