Boulder summarizes emergency response after PSPS and high‑wind event; staff to host town hall
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Summary
City staff told the council the emergency operations center ran Dec. 17–20 and that staff estimate about 60% of the community lost power during the public safety power shutoff and wind event; the city will host a virtual town hall and produce an after‑action report.
City staff updated the Boulder City Council on the city's response to a recent public safety power shutoff (PSPS) and a related high‑wind event that occurred in mid‑December.
Chris (city staff) told the council the emergency operations center was activated Dec. 17–20 and "more than 260 public servants" from across departments participated in daily briefings and operational shifts. Staff estimated that "about 60% of our community lost power during this event," and described concerted multi‑department work to restore critical services and assist vulnerable residents.
The presentation listed concrete operational steps: Boulder Fire Rescue doubled its normal call volume and split the city into two command districts; police increased patrols and extended shift lengths; transportation deployed 27 generators to maintain critical intersections and maintenance crews cleared 179 reported obstructions; planning staff logged roughly 300 damage reports; and utilities sustained water‑treatment operations on generators and did not lose service at the wastewater plant.
Staff also described targeted assistance to high‑risk residents. At Golden West affordable housing, 10 people were at risk of losing oxygen supply; the city's emergency operations center coordinated early re‑energization with Xcel Energy and provisioned battery backups and temporary bedding.
The city is preparing a recorded virtual town hall focused on preparedness and an after‑action report. The town hall, which staff said will include interpretation and an opportunity to submit questions in advance, will cover how the grid serves Boulder, what Xcel Energy did proactively versus what resulted from wind‑related damage, and how different neighborhoods were affected.
Mayor Brockett and council members thanked staff for the cross‑departmental response and urged residents and councilors to participate in the town hall and to review the planned after‑action analysis.