More update specifics needed on power, phone, etc

[robguz]

HELCO bringing in mainland crews! http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/tribune-...tore-power

[bluesboy]

seems like a pretty good response to me. anyone brandishing a firearm deserves an arrest.

[missydog1]

I'm horrified about the gun threat to a lineman. Unbelievable (I wish). []

There are still people without power on my road due to trees, and a HELCO car just stopped by looking for info on any other problems while they were here fixing it. He was really nice and full of aloha and I thanked him.

I think there is a problem with the higher up policy and budget setting for tree maintenance. I've been talking to HELCO and County for about seven years, talking to them about the possibility of a severe wind storm and how their existing policy for trimming isn't good enough.

I've had numerous conversations, and the gist from the County was there are too many trees in their road easements to do preventative maintenance, so they do clean up when something happens. (I told them my opinion on that.)

Second, they tell you if the trees are near lines to call HELCO.

So I call HELCO (numerous times) and speak to the engineer. He is the one who comes out and assesses a concern from a tree. First, the tree must have its trunk planted within a HELCO easement. If a County owned or private property owned tree is close to lines, HELCO won't take it down.

What they will do is trim branches that are TOUCHING lines, but the tree soon grows back and there is the problem again. (I have a main trunk line easement over my property, is why I deal with this.) No matter how much I argue for them to just trim the tree way down or remove it, they won't.

They will assess the health of a tree and take down dead trees that are going to impinge on the lines. What they have refused to do is consider the fall of a "healthy" tree that could get blown over by a wind storm.

I've yet to ever hear them acknowledge that we could have a hurricane or even a big tropical storm as something they take into account (before now), because I always remind them and they don't say it won't happen, but they don't respond to the idea either.

So they do bi-annual maintenance, but they don't look at the big picture, worst case scenario picture and make things safer in case of a hurricane ... and now the cleanup is more than they can do quickly. I hope someone with authority works on overhauling their policies.

[opihikao]

This update just in from Young Brothers:

"We are also pleased to report that Young Brothers was able to respond to the request of Hawaiian Electric Company to immediately transport to Hilo six 40-foot platforms loaded with telephone poles as well as numerous utility vehicles as part of the electric utility’s response to storm-related damage on the east side of the Big Island. This essential cargo was loaded on the Hilo-bound barge on Saturday night and Young Brothers is confident that it will be available in Hilo for transport into the East Hawai`i community on Monday."

Trucks already on the road, on the way to Puna!

[bluesboy]

perhaps helco will change their tune now that they see what can actually happen.

keep in mind - this wasn't even a hurricane that hit the island.

[opihikao]

Red Cross Update:


UPDATE FROM THE HAWAII RED CROSS:

The Hawaii Red Cross Shelter has opened a shelter at the Pahoa Community Center to support the individuals and families impacted by the storm. Residents needing to stay in the shelter will be provided with meals and a cot to sleep on and will also be able to take a shower and charge their phones at any time of the day.

On Tuesday, August 12th at 10:00am, Red Cross volunteers will be distributing meals as well as batteries, water, work gloves, trash bags, and tarps at the Pahoa Community Center parking lot and at the another location that is to be determined to those in need.




Big Island Damage Assessment Teams are continuing to visit the hardest hit areas to determine what resources and assistance can be provided.

[missydog1]

quote:

---

Originally posted by bluesboy

perhaps helco will change their tune now that they see what can actually happen.

keep in mind - this wasn't even a hurricane that hit the island.

---

Exactly. Yes, I hope they do.

My Councilperson has been involved with my efforts to get trees trimmed and the County and HELCO for months now, so my concerns about wind storm bringing trees down on lines are well documented, FWIW. (Mine are now at the back of the line for clearing, of course, as it should be, but discouraging after so much work.)

[terracore]

Power is back on in our corner of Orchidland.

[robguz]

First update I've seen from the State and finally something on the governor's web page.
http://www.scd.hawaii.gov/documents/2014...pdate1.pdf

[kander]

I wonder how long it takes to replace a thousand power poles. and re-string all that cable.