Bernalillo County opens Tijeras center for residents during East Mountains power outage
Vista Grande and Whispering Pines facilities are closed or limited, but county staff say a safe indoor space is available at 478 NM-333 for charging devices and shelter.
By Lauren Bello ·
More than 106,000 residents live in unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County, and many in the East Mountains are currently without electricity. The outage has forced the closure of the Vista Grande Community Center until further notice.
The Whispering Pines Senior Center is also operating under reduced capacity due to the loss of power. While normal daily operations are impacted, the center continues to provide grab-and-go lunch service to local seniors.
County officials have opened the Los Vecinos Community Center at 478 NM-333 in Tijeras to assist affected residents. The facility provides a safe indoor space where individuals can charge electronic devices or clean up while utility crews work to restore service.
Staff members are monitoring conditions closely and plan to post updates on facility operations at www.bernco.gov. County leaders are urging residents to follow specific safety guidelines to minimize risk during the outage.
Residents are advised to turn off stoves and unplug electrical equipment to prevent damage when power returns. Officials recommend keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed to preserve food and leaving only one light on to signal when electricity is back. They also caution against running generators inside a home or garage, suggesting flashlights or flameless LED candles for lighting instead.
