Just cuz you’re paranoid …

The good people at Pacific Gas & Electric gave the heads-up:

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will fly low by helicopter over several communities in Humboldt County on Thursday, January 12, to check for trees near power lines that may have been weakened by five consecutive years of drought (2012-2016).
 
Even with the recent series of storms which brought significant rain to the county, years of drought conditions have affected trees across California. Weakened trees and branches can fall into power lines, leading to outages and even wild land fires.
 
Flights will occur over towns along Highway 36: Alton, Fortuna, Hydesville, Carlotta and the communities of Riverside Park and Maple Grove. They will also occur over the Southeast Humboldt County towns of Alderpoint, Fort Seward and Blocksburg.
 
Residents are advised that the helicopter will fly low – about 200 to 300 feet – along distribution power lines.
 
PG&E is using a contract helicopter service to fly foresters to check affected trees.
 
Weather permitting, flights will occur between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.