High winds in Mill Valley, on Sunday may have contributed to a large tree falling on Seaver Drive. (Alan Dep - Marin Independent Journal)

Motorists drive through a darkened Seventh Street and Grant Avenue intersection in downtown Novato on Saturday. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)

The Shell gas station in Terra Linda was temporarily out of gas ahead of a planned power shutoff in San Rafael on Saturday. Lines were reported at many Marin gas stations after an alert warning of an impending power outage was sent. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)



People line up at a Terra Linda gas station ahead of a planned power shutoff in San Rafael on Saturday. High fire danger prompted PG&E to shut off power to many customers in northern California.(Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)

Temporary stop signs stand at DeLong and Reichert Avenues as traffic signal lights blink red in Novato on Saturday. A Public Safety Power Shutoff began to be implemented in Marin on Saturday afternoon. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)

Broad sections of Marin County lost electricity Saturday night as Pacific Gas & Electric Co. followed through on warnings about massive regional outages.

Related Articles Live updates: Marin public safety power shutdown event

The utility said 940,000 customers — well over 2 million people — are expected to lose power across 36 counties in waves. It estimated that 99% of Marin residents and businesses would be affected.

At 6 p.m. Saturday, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office reported via Twitter that outages were underway in parts of Novato, Fairfax, Woodacre, Lagunitas, San Geronimo and Nicasio, with more on the way.

An estimated time for restoration was unknown. The “all clear” — the point at which the utility can begin inspections — for Marin is expected at 8 a.m. Monday. PG&E said it won’t restore power until inspections of de-energized lines are completed and any damage to the system is repaired.

99% of Marin County to now be affected by PG&E Power Shutoff starting around 4pm https://t.co/PP10oy9F80 — Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) October 26, 2019

Some gusts this weekend might reach 75 mph or higher as part of a “historic” wind event, the National Weather Service said. PG&E officials estimated winds in Marin could reach 55 mph, with gusts up to 65 mph before it was all over.

“It has the potential to be one of the strongest in the last several years,” PG&E principal meteorologist Scott Strenfel said of the wind storm. “It’s also likely to be longer than recent wind events, which have lasted about 12 hours or less.”

Customers should prepare for a shutoff lasting at least two days after the winds die down on Monday, according to the company.

The winds could lead to “erratic fire behavior,” warned the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

It was business as usual in much of Marin early Saturday, as residents continued typical fall weekend activities with family, friends and kids amid the threat of smoky skies from the Kincade Fire burning in Sonoma County.

News of the all-county blackout spread quickly as the sound of emergency alerts pinged on cellphones simultaneously during soccer games at Hauke Park in Mill Valley.

In Marinwood, residents queued up in unusually long lines to get to the gas pumps, hoping to top off tanks before gas stations were de-energized.

The scene was similar at gas stations near Northgate mall in San Rafael, where most went about their business waiting, and preparing for the lights to go out.

County emergency officials deployed automated calls to landlines warning of the impending blackout. At the Civic Center, all Marin Center weekend events were canceled. The Sunday farmers market will be open, according to the Agricultural Institute of Marin.

Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke announced a countywide public school closure until power was restored. Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy planned to remain open.

Officials with MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae tweeted its emergency department would remain open and fully operational during the outage.

First responders urged residents to avoid calling 9-1-1 to keep the lines open for those who need emergency help.

For non-emergency information or questions about medical devices, community resource center locations or charging centers, text MARINSHUTOFF or MARINAPAGON (for Spanish speakers) to 898-211 or dial 2-1-1.

Cellphones, including text functions, could stop working if cell towers do not have backup generators, authorities cautioned. Designating a meeting point in the event of lost communications is advised.

Bay Area News Group and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

#PSPS UPDATE: 2nd PSPS Impact Expands by 90k Customers

• Total projected impact now 940k in portions of 36 counties

• Power to be shutoff for safety in 6 zones starting @ approx 2PM today (weather dependent)

• Address look-up: https://t.co/AUFB81ZXtQ pic.twitter.com/mBxz5dhc78 — PG&E (@PGE4Me) October 26, 2019

RESOURCES IN MARIN

Community Resource Centers:

San Rafael: Al Boro Community Center: 50 Canal St. (Sunday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the duration of the shutoff)

Novato: Margaret Todd Center 1560 Hill Road (Sunday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.); Old Hamilton gym, 115 San Pablo Ave. (Sunday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Charging Stations: