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Generators in danger of burning up in Cloverleaf
By Matt Hollis
Billie Vasquez, general manager of Harris County Water District (HCWD) No. 36 in Cloverleaf, said the generators used to keep their tanks filled with water are in serious danger of burning up. That could mean there is potential for a major disaster in the Cloverleaf area with no drinkable water, no water for toilets and no water for fire departments to use in case there is a fire.
"It could be catastrophic for this area," Vasquez said. "We service about 12,700 customers and most of Cloverleaf is still without power. We called CenterPoint on Monday and they told us they are aware we are without power and that we were behind a hospital and that we are a priority. On that following Thursday, we still didn’t have service and have been on backup since the Friday since the hurricane struck."
On Thursday, Vasquez said one of the generators overheated.
"Luckily one of our superintendents was able to get it restored, added coolant to it, let it cool down, restarted it and everything seem to be ok," Vasquez said. "The next day a company came out and serviced the generator because we could not clear the codes off of it."
Vasquez says CenterPoint told her they would have power by Saturday.
"Well, there have been no trucks at all," she said. "They have piled all those trucks on the Ritchie Brothers parking lot which is in our district. There are probably 150 to 200 trucks stored over there. Every day they go out, but they do not come to our area. I’ve been calling and calling and they will not return our calls."
On Monday, Sept. 22, Vasquez said the generators were serviced again.
"It started back up and then it went off," she said. "So we have been working 24/7 to keep water pressure up. If this goes down, it means the people of Cloverleaf will not have potable drinking water for any reason. These people are already without power. I hate to see them without water as well."
Vasquez said constables from Precinct 3 are a part of their building and the fire department is across the street.
"A lot of people are burning in Cloverleaf," Vasquez said. "There is a burn ban out, but still people are burning because they want to get rid of this debris. I told the fire department if they get a call, it is possible they could not be able to get any water out of the hydrant. With the debris out here on the side of the road and people burning, it could be a catastrophic situation."
In addition, Vasquez said they have used so much diesel fuel that they may have to shut down power at the building and that means the constables would have no power. That could result in absolute chaos in the area with no law enforcement officers being able to maintain order especially with looters preying on residents with no power.
The four generators the MUD district uses are 100 to 150 kWs, Vasquez said. Two are permanently mounted at the office, one is mounted at the water plant and another is a portable generator that they towed over to a water well site.
"I am real concerned because CenterPoint is just giving me the runaround," Vasquez said. "They said it is just something as minor as a wire fuse at the office. I told them that is not the priority. The priority is the water plant and getting water to these people. They told me they had a meeting last week and they were more interested in getting more services turned on than worrying about the priority.
"That means to me they are more interested in saying statistically we have 60 to 70 percent of the power restored, meaning 30 to 40 percent is still without power. We need power out here so these people can bath and drink healthy water. We just need anybody who can help. We seem like we are the forgotten neighborhood."
Last week, the water district’s parking lot served as a POD of sorts when the San Antonio-based Cornerstone Church, ran by John Hagee Ministries, sent truckloads of food and supplies to the Cloverleaf area and they were able to service many residents who are in desperate need.
"They lined up for blocks," Vasquez said. "They came on foot or bicycle. They do not have money for food or gas and cannot travel to the PODs."
Vasquez said they serviced about 600 people that day.
"The water is safe up to this point," she said. "But we could lose the generators today. If someone has a contact so we could get a generator, we want them to get in touch with us."
CenterPoint spokesperson Leticia Lowe said the company has been faced with unusual circumstances due to Hurricane Ike and that water district’s such as No. 36 are a high priority.
"With 2.1 million people out of power, we just cannot get to all of them at the same time," Lowe said. "We have been working systematically to get power back on for everyone."
According to statements released on CenterPoint’s Web site www.centerpoint.com, the company says its first priority is addressing downed power lines and restoring service to key facilities vital to safety, health and welfare, such as hospitals, water treatment plants and public service facilities.
Anyone with information on a generator can call the water district at 713-453-5493.
"It could be catastrophic for this area," Vasquez said. "We service about 12,700 customers and most of Cloverleaf is still without power. We called CenterPoint on Monday and they told us they are aware we are without power and that we were behind a hospital and that we are a priority. On that following Thursday, we still didn’t have service and have been on backup since the Friday since the hurricane struck."
On Thursday, Vasquez said one of the generators overheated.
"Luckily one of our superintendents was able to get it restored, added coolant to it, let it cool down, restarted it and everything seem to be ok," Vasquez said. "The next day a company came out and serviced the generator because we could not clear the codes off of it."
Vasquez says CenterPoint told her they would have power by Saturday.
"Well, there have been no trucks at all," she said. "They have piled all those trucks on the Ritchie Brothers parking lot which is in our district. There are probably 150 to 200 trucks stored over there. Every day they go out, but they do not come to our area. I’ve been calling and calling and they will not return our calls."
On Monday, Sept. 22, Vasquez said the generators were serviced again.
"It started back up and then it went off," she said. "So we have been working 24/7 to keep water pressure up. If this goes down, it means the people of Cloverleaf will not have potable drinking water for any reason. These people are already without power. I hate to see them without water as well."
Vasquez said constables from Precinct 3 are a part of their building and the fire department is across the street.
"A lot of people are burning in Cloverleaf," Vasquez said. "There is a burn ban out, but still people are burning because they want to get rid of this debris. I told the fire department if they get a call, it is possible they could not be able to get any water out of the hydrant. With the debris out here on the side of the road and people burning, it could be a catastrophic situation."
In addition, Vasquez said they have used so much diesel fuel that they may have to shut down power at the building and that means the constables would have no power. That could result in absolute chaos in the area with no law enforcement officers being able to maintain order especially with looters preying on residents with no power.
The four generators the MUD district uses are 100 to 150 kWs, Vasquez said. Two are permanently mounted at the office, one is mounted at the water plant and another is a portable generator that they towed over to a water well site.
"I am real concerned because CenterPoint is just giving me the runaround," Vasquez said. "They said it is just something as minor as a wire fuse at the office. I told them that is not the priority. The priority is the water plant and getting water to these people. They told me they had a meeting last week and they were more interested in getting more services turned on than worrying about the priority.
"That means to me they are more interested in saying statistically we have 60 to 70 percent of the power restored, meaning 30 to 40 percent is still without power. We need power out here so these people can bath and drink healthy water. We just need anybody who can help. We seem like we are the forgotten neighborhood."
Last week, the water district’s parking lot served as a POD of sorts when the San Antonio-based Cornerstone Church, ran by John Hagee Ministries, sent truckloads of food and supplies to the Cloverleaf area and they were able to service many residents who are in desperate need.
"They lined up for blocks," Vasquez said. "They came on foot or bicycle. They do not have money for food or gas and cannot travel to the PODs."
Vasquez said they serviced about 600 people that day.
"The water is safe up to this point," she said. "But we could lose the generators today. If someone has a contact so we could get a generator, we want them to get in touch with us."
CenterPoint spokesperson Leticia Lowe said the company has been faced with unusual circumstances due to Hurricane Ike and that water district’s such as No. 36 are a high priority.
"With 2.1 million people out of power, we just cannot get to all of them at the same time," Lowe said. "We have been working systematically to get power back on for everyone."
According to statements released on CenterPoint’s Web site www.centerpoint.com, the company says its first priority is addressing downed power lines and restoring service to key facilities vital to safety, health and welfare, such as hospitals, water treatment plants and public service facilities.
Anyone with information on a generator can call the water district at 713-453-5493.
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