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Authorities assess Santa Ana wind response in the San Gabriel Valley
Power lines, broken branches and fallen trees surround a house as strong Santa Ana Winds cause the worst local wind damage in decades on December 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. \
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Officials from several Southern California utility companies joined federal, state and local authorities on Thursday morning to discuss how they could’ve responded more effectively to power outages in the wake of the Santa Ana wind storms.
Last November, heavy winds swept across the San Gabriel Valley and other areas, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in the dark.
People packed the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena to hear from Southern California Edison, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Pasadena Water and Power. The companies were just three of many that gathered to participate in the roundtable discussion.
SoCal Edison President Ron Litzinger says that the storm affected three-fourths of that utility’s customers in the San Gabriel Valley, one of the areas hardest hit by winds.
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The company says it employed “smart meters” to pinpoint damaged places, but that the extent of all the destruction meant it took longer than company officials had hoped to restore service to its customers.
Edison says it’s still analyzing response procedures, but officials admitted the company fell short in communicating with customers and pledged improved communication strategies in the future.
Other officials at the hearing said they were concerned that consumers had complained utility companies didn't update them enough through social media or other means.
Congressman Adam Schiff — whose district includes Pasadena, San Gabriel and Altadena — led the roundtable.
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