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Mayor’s address
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a transcript of Mayor Johnny Isbell’s address on Friday:
My fellow citizens of Pasadena:
As we come up to the one week anniversary of Hurricane Ike’s impact, we can see how much already has been accomplished … and how much remains to be done.
As we’ve moved from emergency response to a recovery mode, your city government faces many of the same issues you do as homeowners and business people. Debris removal, repair of essential equipment, relocation of key staff and resources have moved up the list of priorities as food and fuel are becoming more accessible in our area.
We still have too many Pasadenans without power, as approximately 36,000 folks remain without electrical service. Our assistance to CenterPoint in that area comes in the form of increasing levels of branch and vegetative tree removal. We have eight city trucks in service on those tasks with 60 contracted trucks due in by Monday. Debris removal will continue 7 days a week until finished.
You can do your part to speed the process along by remembering to separate out building materials from limbs and vegetation debris, and keeping your household garbage separate.
I’d like to update you on where we are with recovery efforts here in Pasadena:
There is no longer a PoD or distribution center in Pasadena as of today, and the one in Deer Park closes today (Friday) at 3 p.m.
Latest Centerpoint Energy numbers – approximately 36,000 homes and businesses in Pasadena without power.
Our emergency communications have handled over 7,000 calls from residents in just over 96 hours and has worked beautifully so far.
We have no boil water advisories for our community now.
Our Golden Acres treatment plant joins our other plant as now operational, as well as all 63 pump stations.
We are currently on a normal pickup schedule for trash at this time.
The two non-police emergency numbers to call for information remain the Pasadena ActionLine at (713) 475-5555 during business hours and (866) 357-8099 ’round the clock.
For FEMA reimbursement assistance due to storm damage losses, call 1-800-621-FEMA. Be sure to save any receipts for purchases that are directly related to expenses incurred due to Hurricane Ike.
Pasadena Municipal Courts are open for those who able to settle their traffic ticket and other citations. For those who are unable to appear due to displacement by the storm, the Courts are willing to allow a reasonable period of time (30 days) to reset court appearances without penalty.
There was a heartwarming story recently as 480 of our special needs evacuees were returned to their points of origination. Our Fire Marshal’s Office, Police, Fire, Public Works and many other departments were involved in getting these folks back into Pasadena and on their way home and we want to recognize all their effort.
Once again, please remember to remove all food and other combustibles from stove tops. There have been many calls to our Fire Department as the power comes on in homes with food on the stove. This is a serious fire hazard.
There have been 54 arrests, lower than the norm for this period.
A curfew remains in effect between the hours of 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. through Saturday. There has been one curfew related arrest and several citations, but overall I want to commend the citizens of Pasadena for their cooperation during this time.
My fellow citizens of Pasadena:
As we come up to the one week anniversary of Hurricane Ike’s impact, we can see how much already has been accomplished … and how much remains to be done.
As we’ve moved from emergency response to a recovery mode, your city government faces many of the same issues you do as homeowners and business people. Debris removal, repair of essential equipment, relocation of key staff and resources have moved up the list of priorities as food and fuel are becoming more accessible in our area.
We still have too many Pasadenans without power, as approximately 36,000 folks remain without electrical service. Our assistance to CenterPoint in that area comes in the form of increasing levels of branch and vegetative tree removal. We have eight city trucks in service on those tasks with 60 contracted trucks due in by Monday. Debris removal will continue 7 days a week until finished.
You can do your part to speed the process along by remembering to separate out building materials from limbs and vegetation debris, and keeping your household garbage separate.
I’d like to update you on where we are with recovery efforts here in Pasadena:
There is no longer a PoD or distribution center in Pasadena as of today, and the one in Deer Park closes today (Friday) at 3 p.m.
Latest Centerpoint Energy numbers – approximately 36,000 homes and businesses in Pasadena without power.
Our emergency communications have handled over 7,000 calls from residents in just over 96 hours and has worked beautifully so far.
We have no boil water advisories for our community now.
Our Golden Acres treatment plant joins our other plant as now operational, as well as all 63 pump stations.
We are currently on a normal pickup schedule for trash at this time.
The two non-police emergency numbers to call for information remain the Pasadena ActionLine at (713) 475-5555 during business hours and (866) 357-8099 ’round the clock.
For FEMA reimbursement assistance due to storm damage losses, call 1-800-621-FEMA. Be sure to save any receipts for purchases that are directly related to expenses incurred due to Hurricane Ike.
Pasadena Municipal Courts are open for those who able to settle their traffic ticket and other citations. For those who are unable to appear due to displacement by the storm, the Courts are willing to allow a reasonable period of time (30 days) to reset court appearances without penalty.
There was a heartwarming story recently as 480 of our special needs evacuees were returned to their points of origination. Our Fire Marshal’s Office, Police, Fire, Public Works and many other departments were involved in getting these folks back into Pasadena and on their way home and we want to recognize all their effort.
Once again, please remember to remove all food and other combustibles from stove tops. There have been many calls to our Fire Department as the power comes on in homes with food on the stove. This is a serious fire hazard.
There have been 54 arrests, lower than the norm for this period.
A curfew remains in effect between the hours of 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. through Saturday. There has been one curfew related arrest and several citations, but overall I want to commend the citizens of Pasadena for their cooperation during this time.
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pasadenaof1956 wrote on Sep 26, 2008 8:15 PM:
I was Blessed to see so many neighbors pulling together to clean up after such a Great Storm.
Folks we all owe Our Police Force / Volunteer Fire Fighters / City Workers at all levels / and all of the workers of Recovery from all over AMERICA a great debt of Gratitude for working for and with us. Yes Pasadena We are so Blessed, God Bless you ALL. "