Following are comments from some residents about a power outage in 2006, courtesy of Jim Harais from his marinvalley.org website.
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It is easy to blame God for the storm that did so much damage or curse PG&E for not more quickly solving out electrical power outage. Pointing our finger or tongues at “them” will not help solve the problem if and when it happens again – and it will in one form or another. Our loses in Marvelous Marin are small in comparison to what happened a few days later in the Midwest or what happens each year in the South Eastern States during hurricane seasons.
MVMCC is unique because we have such a concentration of elderly folks behind 2/3 hills with no through traffic to light up the darkness. One of our residents who is almost 80 became disoriented during the storm and had to be redirected to her dark home. With no sidewalks in the coach areas; and a sharp drop-off on the south side of M.V.D. in one spot, she was in a threatening situation. Thanks for caring neighbors. One resident has threatened to bring legal suit if things are not taken care of in a better fashion.
Let’s have a general meeting soon in the club house for residents to air their fears and make suggestions to develop our plan to better handle the next power outage
PS Congratulations to Pat Eklund and Mark from the I.J. plus our elected officers for finally hitting the “ENTER KEY”
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WHAT DID WE DO RIGHT — We purchased two generators to provide power to the pumps that move the effluent to the Las Galinas Sanitary district. — We did not open the door to our freezers. — Those of us who require electricity because of health reasons called the fire department and requested assistance. — Many of us called PG&E at 1-800-743-5002 to report the outage and to request an update as to when power would be restored. We should all have contacted on-site-staff for information and assistance because of health considerations. — We should all have contacted the leadership of PAC and volunteered our help as needed.
WHAT DID WE DO WRONG — We did not contact Pat Eklund soon enough. — Not enough of us volunteered to help management as needed. —
WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER NEXT TIME — Insist that Management and PAC develop an emergency plan that addresses the needs of those residents who require emergency assistance upon loss of electrical power and insist that such a plan is implemented.
COMMENT — Once Pat Eklund became involved with our situation the power was restored within a few hours. It appears that our community did not have a sufficiently high priority until a member of the City Council interacted with PG&E on our behalf. — Thank You Pat.
Owen V. Haxton 172 Marin Valley Drive Novato, CA 94949 415 883 3275 hornet5@pacbell.net
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PART OF THE IJ’S EDITORIAL — “OUTAGE SHOWS NEED FOR BETTER PREPARATION At time like this, it seems appreciate that PG&E advises the public of its response procedures, the emergency priority dicisions it makes in determining where and when to dispatch its crews. One crisis was faced at the Marin Valley Mobile Country Club, a Novato neighborhood of 500 senior residents, where several people had to be taken to convalescent homes or moved temporarily into a hotel or a family member’s house because the outage left them without power for their oxygen tanks, wheelchairs or other medical equipment. Novato Councilwoman Pat Eklund makes a good point, urging PG&E to move areas that include senior complexes up on its priority list. ”
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WHERE WERE THEY? Joe said, Marin Valleys Former Staff Member and now a resident, I told Mark where the problem was. Remember when the transformer and high voltage wires failed I was right up there in the Club House ordering generators, letting everyone know what was going on and letting people know where they could help. I didn’t see anybody at the clubhouse nor did I get anybody but an answering service they didn’t have any real information, John even had his answering machine on. I told them I still had the phone numbers to get the generators and to check out the park but nobody wanted them.
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JUST THE FACTS FOLKS I was awakened from sleep Thursday night, our dog Lucy started barking when the power went off, then on and off again then black and no heat. Go back to sleep Kathy I’m sure the parks on it and we will have power back in the morning. Friday I called Marin Valley – Busy than no answer than Busy. Friday night I stopped by the office after work — nobody around everything black.then went home. Candles were nice with Kathy -cold cuts from the delli called Marin Valley got the answering service. What’s going on I asked? Mark said power will be back on in two hours. Has anyone checked our Park to see if it is OK for PG&E to reconnect, sorry I’m just the answering service.– Called John Wallace, got his answering machine. Called the Office and got the answering service — Just talked to Mark and the power will be back on in two hours. Is there anything we can do I asked. I’m just the answering service I was told. Are all the sick being taken care of? Do we know who they all are. I’m just the answering service. — Saturday still nobody at the club house dark and cold. Our use to be coat room door closed tight. I went home and called the office and got the answering service Mark said the power will be on by 10AM tomorrow morning Has Al Fry been notified and is he coming down? Who is Al Fry the operator asked. –. Saturday Noon totally frustrated I went to Marks or his brothers house I don’t remember which– nobody at the club house of course,I thought maybe Shirley might be there but She doesn’t work weekends right, I was asked what are you doing here didn’t you call the club house and by the way everything’s being taken care of and the power will be on in two hours.— 4:45PM the IJ shows up with photographer and KGO TV and finally I see John Wallace and the PAC office open Pat Eklund comes and what do you know — The power comes back on. Pat got it done!
Jim Harais 63 Marin Valley Dr. jim@harais.com
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Ok, it’s over now but what about next time —AND THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME Lets ask ourselves some questions? DO WE HAVE A PLAN? Do we know who is in need of equipment and who around them will watch out for them? Why didn’t we have a generator for the club house and the heat on and the lights lit and the kitchen open so folks could bring there food up and share it before it all spoiled? Couldn’t we have opened the Ice machine so people could have Ice to keep food from spoiling. Why don’t we have a generator on a trailer to go from transformer to transformer for two or three hours of power every so often. Finally why haven’t we got PG&E to back feed us from Hamilton so we wont get knocked out so easily?
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—————WHAT DID WE DO RIGHT?
—————————WHAT DID WE DO WRONG?
————————————WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER NEXT TIME?