High winds continue to batter Kern County causing air quality alerts, power outages, cancellations and damage throughout the area.
Thousands of PG&E and Southern California Edison customers in Kern County are without power either as a result of public safety power shutoffs or due to unexpected power outages caused by the wind. In addition, school districts have closed and events around the county have been canceled.
The Kern County Fire Department has worked numerous fires in the region, and the Bakersfield Fire Department has posted a picture showing the damage to a home caused by a falling tree.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued an Air Quality Emergency warning until 11 p.m. for Kern County. The district reported that high winds and blowing dust is severely impacting air quality throughout the Valley portion of Kern County, including the City of Bakersfield and surrounding communities.
#airqualityalert #kerncounty@ValleyAir issued an air quality emergency warning. People are encouraged to stay indoors. The poor air quality could last through the end of the week, with blowing dust subsiding tonight.
— Kern County Sheriff's Office (@KernCoSheriff) October 30, 2019
Photo from the Grapevine by Deputy Alvarez tells the story. pic.twitter.com/aAu9Crz1Gg
Residents have also posted pictures of some of the other damage caused by the wind.
