The Center in SLV to be the community’s emergency resource location

BOULDER CREEK, Calif. (KION-TV) -- PG&E announced Friday that it will be helping support customers in Boulder Creek prepare for future extreme weather events.

They say that they are converting the Highlands Park Senior and Community Center of San Lorenzo (The Center), in Boulder Creek to an emergency center for the community. The company announced that between 2023-2024, The Center received $15,000 from PG&E’s South Bay and Central Coast Region team to purchase and install a generator that will allow The Center to remain open during power outages.

“We are in the process of registering The Center as an Emergency Response Location so we can offer community members a safe place to gather, reduce isolation, recharge devices and access programs like Meals on Wheels,” said Coco Raner-Walter, board president for Highlands Park Senior and Community Center. “We are very happy that PG&E wants to help us meet our goals.”

The Center serves the entire San Lorenzo Valley and because of the wildfire risk, PG&E says the community will be protected by Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS). EPSS' turn off power within one-tenth of a second anytime a hazard comes in contact with the utility’s powerlines.

“We are so grateful that our customers in the San Lorenzo Valley understand the risk and take measures to protect themselves in all seasons and conditions," said Teresa Alvarado, vice president for PG&E’s South Bay and Central Coast region.

The Center already serves as a vaccination clinic, vote-by-mail polling location, a cooling center and a key location for community meetings.