SCHOFIELD BARRACKS -- The Directorate of Public Works is reminding those, here, that a 10-hour electrical outage affecting more than 900 homes, plus various businesses and organizations, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21.
Electricity is scheduled to be out from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but could last longer.
The outage affects all of the homes in the Patriot Hamilton and Canby communities here, said Teresa Brown, property management coordinator at Island Palm Communities.
There are approximately 582 homes in the Patriot Hamilton community and approximately 386 homes in the Canby community.
She added that the outage could inadvertently extend to neighboring communities, which should also be prepared for the outage.
The Schofield Barracks Health Clinic will be closed due to the outage. Those who experience a medical emergency should call 911. Wahiawa General Hospital and Tripler Army Medical Center will be open.
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While most restaurants, here, will be closed, the commissary will be open during reduced hours, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., said Brad McMinn, director of the Schofield Commissary.
Those who choose to remain on the installation can pick up ice, ready-made meals (deli sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, etc.), flashlights and candles. He added that the commissary would have been impacted by the outage, but the 249th Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stepped in to provide electricity via generators.
The scheduled outage is part of ongoing efforts to upgrade the Schofield Barracks Castner Substation, which is one of two main electrical substations powering the installation.
The upgrades include replacing four failing transformers, replacing two outdated oil-circuit breakers (which were difficult to source because of their age), replacing damaged air switches and replacing old metering equipment, according to Gregory Hinkle, DPW operations officer.
Hinkle described the work being done at the substation as routine maintenance and said Saturday's scheduled outage is relatively minor compared to what could happen if the substation were not upgraded and shut down completely.
He added that the maintenance is necessary because of the Castner Substation's age -- it was installed in 1944.
The first upgrade to the substation took place in 1996 to replace five transformers, Hinkle said. Another upgrade took place in 2003 to replace one transformer.
Two more major electrical outages are scheduled as part of the work on the Castner Substation, one in March and the other in June.
IPC has the following tips for residents impacted by the outage:
•Open the refrigerator and freezer only when necessary.
•If there is space, freeze gallon jugs of water to help maintain the freezer's temperature. Be sure to fill the jugs no more than ? full to allow for expansion when freezing.
•Have extra ice on hand and a cooler to keep perishable food cold.
•Foods in the freezer will remain frozen for one day provided the door remains shut.
•Foods in the refrigerator will remain unspoiled for up to six hours. Condiments typically last longer unrefrigerated.
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• Resources
Those still experiencing disruption in electrical services after 6 p.m., Saturday, may call DPW at (808) 656-3272.
For more tips, click on the "Safety and Emergency" tab at hawaiianelectric.com.
• Outage Locations
The following services will be closed Saturday, Feb. 1, due to the scheduled power outage:
• Army Air Force Exchange Service
Car Care Center
Exchange and Food Court
Home Center
Paradise Express
Popeyes/Burger King
Sgt. Smith Theater
• Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation
Bennett Child Development Center
Bennett Youth Center
Leisure Travel Service
Martinez Physical Fitness Center
Nehelani Conference and Banquet Center
Outdoor Recreation Equipment Storage
Outdoor Recreation Complex
Richardson Pool
Schofield Barracks Bowling Center
Sgt. Yano Library
Tennis Courts Office
Tropics
Warren Skills Development Center
Youth Sports Office
• Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security
Tropic Lightning Museum
• Island Palm Communities
Canby Community
Patriot Hamilton Community
• Logistics Readiness Center
Bronco Café Dining Facility
Warrior Inn Dining Facility
• Schofield Barracks Health Clinic
Acute Care Clinic
Laboratory
Pharmacy
Radiology
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