Upland City Council members on Monday credited city crews and contractors for preparation that limited damage during recent windstorms, and called on Southern California Edison to improve communication and support for residents affected by public safety power shutoffs.

Council members said the city’s preventive work — notably large-scale tree trimming along Euclid Avenue and other maintenance — helped reduce the number of downed trees compared with previous storms and limited service disruptions. “I have tremendous gratitude for our executives and our city manager,” Council Member Moss said, praising public works and the fire and police response. “If this strikes home in our own city, it could send us scrambling if we’re not prepared.”

Why it matters: public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) and wind-driven outages can interrupt traffic signals, critical services and business operations; council members said better utility coordination and clearer notices are needed to protect residents, especially seniors and those on medical devices.

City Manager Mike Blay introduced Public Works Director Chris Alanis to describe preparations taken before the storm. Alanis credited his team and the city’s contractors for work that included comprehensive tree trimming on Euclid Avenue, a water-reservoir evaluation to assess firefighting capacity, fuel-fire abatement and arrangements with contractors for emergency removal and equipment (including a tub grinder). “The congratulations should go to the team,” Alanis said, noting crews and contractors were staged and ready during the event.

Council Member Whiteley was among those who pressed for action by the utility. “SCE must address several critical issues to better serve our community. Communication is paramount in emergency situations,” Whiteley said, calling for improved notification systems, greater transparency about outage rationale and closer collaboration with local agencies.

Several council members said the city’s proactive contract approvals and planning were important to prepare for recurring January wind events. Council Member Moss said she had “asked a lot of questions through executives and funnel[ed] through the city manager that I know will get addressed,” indicating staff follow-up rather than a formal council directive.

The council also recognized the role of County Fire, the Upland Police Department and the city’s CERT volunteers in the response. No new ordinances or emergency declarations were made at the meeting; officials said the city’s storm response did not require a state of emergency this time.

Looking ahead, council members said they will continue to assess communication strategies with utilities and review internal emergency planning. The city manager and public works director did not announce specific new funding or programs at the meeting.