With the potential for heavy rain and strong winds hitting our area Friday, power outages are expected.

That’s why PG&E wants to make sure that their customers are prepared for possible outages.

To avoid finding yourself in the dark, make sure you have battery operated flashlights and radios with fresh batteries ready.

Candles pose a fire risk so avoid using them during a power outage.

But if they are necessary, keep them away from drapes, lampshades and small children.

Do not to leave candles unattended.

It’s a good idea to freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator or freezer during an outage to prevent food from spoiling.

Before calling PG&E about a power outage, check to see if other neighbors are effected to confirm if an outage is impacting the neighborhood or just your house.

Sign up for PG&E's outage alerts, which provide customer updates via phone calls, texts or emails.

Go to your My Energy account or click here for more information.