GHI Takes Up Electrical Service and Emergency Preparedness

A preliminary assessment shows that recent storm damages will cost Greenbelt Homes, Inc., (GHI) about $73,000, although that is not the full extent of it, GHI assistant general manager Eldon Ralph said at a meeting of the GHI board of directors on Thursday night, Sept. 8.  Ralph expected GHI's insurance company to reimburse GHI for the damage costs.

Ralph said that six homes at 20 Hillside were still without Pepco power, with power expected to be restored early next week. He said that, in the meantime, a GHI contractor has provided the homes with generator power.

On Sunday, Aug. 28, at 4:30 a.m., Ralph said it damaged two homes and a telephone pole and ripped all the electrical boxes off the wall of 20 G Hillside, causing the extended power loss to 20 G and five adjoining townhomes.

Ralph said that out of a total of 18 homes that lost power in that incident, 12 homes had power restored within a few days. 

The recent storms and earthquake inevitably came up throughout the meeting and emergency preparation was on the minds of the board, staff and members.

Kris White, chair of the GHI Companion Animal Committee, presented recommendations for GHI emergency preparations for members and animals. White noted that the City of Greenbelt's position is that in a serious emergency, citizens should prepare to be on their own for the first 72 hours and that they should shelter in place. City councilperson Leta Mach, who attended the meeting, agreed.

Board member Irv Wartell indicated there was an immediate need to implement the committee’s recommendation and that there could have been disastrous results. He said GHI should have a full emergency plan.

Ralph, — , when the current general manager, Gretchen Overdurff, retires — agreed that the GHI emergency plan needs updating. Wartell also urged it be done in a timely manner, saying we "don't want to wait too long, a winter storm could create a disaster."

GHI vice president Laura Moore chimed in with "what have we not had — hurricanes, earthquake, floods!”

GHI member Tom Jones said that unreliable electrical service was GHI's Achilles heel. He cited the death of his brother, who died on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, saying Michael had died after going to his taxi to keep warm during a power outage. That occurred during a powerful blizzard dubbed "Snowmaggedon."

Jones was at the meeting to give the final report of the GHI website redesign task force — on ways to better communicate with members, including in emergencies. Johanna Jones, also at the meeting, said she had laughed at first at Tom's level of emergency readiness, including canned water, but she changed her mind during the recent storms.

The board also discussed a plan to have members receive Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training so they can help in an emergency.