live alone, age 60

The worst part about this shut down was not knowing if I could receive notification if there had been a fire. I was having trouble even sending texts at one point and had one bar of connection most of the time. This meant I couldn't check news sites or google about fire conditions. With the conditions similar to the Marshall Fire and without knowing how much the fire notification system had improved, it seemed crazy to cut off communication between people just when we needed the most connection to stay informed. I sat in the dark wondering if I was safe.

If there will be more preemptive shut downs, then I think it's up to the utility to give notice to every single customer (I don't know why my neighbor got emails and I didn't) so that they can protect their food, make sure they can get their car out in case of fire and be connected to loved ones. I lost at least 20 pre-cooked meals I had made and put in my freezer. I had to find my garage manual in the dark to review emergency manual instructions.

Xcel should produce a manual for every single customer and send it snail mail that clearly lists a pre-shut down list that includes advising how to stay connected to emergency notification systems without wifi, how to get car out of garage, how to protect food with short notice, etc. DO NOT create a super obvious list that says have flashlights on hand. That is maddening. Everyone has a way to get light. They need more helpful information.

They should also work with local emergency notification systems to be sure everyone knows we won't be cut off from fire notifications if we lose connectivity.

I am deeply concerned that I had no prior notification (I got a text Saturday night informing me that the power was off...duh) and that a neighbor texted me to tell me. It reminds me of the Marshall Fire when we were ON OUR OWN.

As someone without family nearby and without neighbors who could help me (most are elderly, disabled or have young families), I felt very isolated and definitely on my own to fend for myself if fire were to arrive.