Whipping winds and steady rain caused power lines to fail across the Southland, with more than 4,300 customer accounts blacked out at midafternoon.
Traffic lights are dark in much of Culver City, and a huge multiplex movie theater in Sherman Oaks had to hand out rain checks when the power failed at about 2:45 p.m.
"We were watching 'Trout Fishing In The Yemen,'' said one customer, who
gave his name as Phil. "The generators came on and they escorted us out."
Southern California Edison has 4,308 customers without power as of 3
p.m., said Mashi Nyssen of SCE.
"There is a lot of wind and rain,'' Nyssen said. "The cities most
affected are Carson, Commerce, Compton, Culver City and Redondo Beach.''
Nyssen said she did not know if any power lines had come down, but
warned residents who may see them to call 9-1-1 and never touch or come near downed lines. She also advised using flashlights rather than candles if the
power goes out at home.
"We just want customers to be safe and careful,'' Nyssen said.
No outage estimates were immediately available from the Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power.
