The Department of Veterans Affairs warned California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday that the decision to shut off power for hundreds of thousands of Californians could be harmful to veterans.
Secretary Robert Wilkie sent the letter following the Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s intentional blackout of several counties across the northern part of the state in an effort to stem the wildfires ravaging the area.
“This action and possible future ones like it could create significant life-threatening issues for the region’s Veterans and their families, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) community care partners attempting to provide essential health care services,” Wilkie wrote in the letter, which was obtained by the Washington Examiner.
[Read more: PG&E blackout is latest leverage in fight over California’s energy mix]
“While VA facilities possess back-up power capabilities, VA cannot ensure the same for individual Veterans and community care partners,” Wilkie wrote. “Power outages could become dangerous for Veterans receiving in-home care and those who rely on power for the refrigeration of life-saving medications like insulin.”
Wilkie urged Newsom to restore power in order to maintain the health and safety of the more than 1.6 million veterans in the state. VA facilities will continue to provide services during the blackouts.
Newsom’s office was unable to respond to requests for comment by press time.
Millions of people have been affected by the blackouts, which began two weeks ago. Nearly 3 million had their power shut off Saturday and might not have it restored until Wednesday or later.
“I would ask everyone to make sure you’re prepared for the potential that your power may not be restored,” PG&E President and CEO Andy Vesey, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The company is concerned that the intense winds created by inclement weather could knock down power lines and start wildfires. California’s emergency personnel are battling wildfires in the state’s northern wine country and in the densely populated Los Angeles County.
A fire started in Sonoma County last week covers 103 square miles and has destroyed 80,000 structures, forcing 200,000 people to evacuate. The LA County fire started Monday and covered 500 acres as of Monday. Tens of thousands of people have had to evacuate in response, according to the Associated Press.
