The governor Wanda Vázquez Garced assured today, Friday, that the Electric Power Authority (PREPA) “is ready” to respond during any emergency that arises during the new hurricane season that was anticipated as a “hyperactive” for this year, according to the National Oceanic Administration and Atmospheric (NOAA).
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The president offered her statements during a press conference from PREPA’s general warehouse facilities in Palo Seco, which, she stressed, is “full of materials” to meet the needs that the engineering teams of the public corporation require in case of having to restore electrical service or deal with any setback in the system.
“Today I inform you that the Electric Power Authority has enough materials and equipment and $ 135 million has been invested to supply the Electric Power Authority during any emergency. There are 48 new units for the fleet for a properly equipped response to handle the emergency. There are 4 helicopters to attend the emergency. And the Electric Power Authority already has collaboration agreements with companies in the United States to support them in the restoration of the service if necessary. There is satellite communications equipment in all areas. There are 160 operators in the Customer Service Centers. And staff equipped for better performance, “said Vázquez Garced.
The executive said, in turn, that she requested to maintain an active program of pruning and preventive unhooking in the trees to provide stability in the electrical system.
“Years ago this warehouse was empty and now we can see that the $ 135 million has been invested to have equipment in authority. In addition, the agreements with those companies in the United States establish that they have their equipment here so that we do not have to suffer the consequences of the past, “he said.
The conference is given a day after the Electric Power Authority confirmed that the intense rains that affected sectors of the interior, west and the metropolitan area yesterday caused that over 70,000 subscribers will be without electricity.
However, the director of PREPA, José Ortiz, established that yesterday’s slight blackout is not a reflection of the system being weak, but rather that it was protected by the electrical storms that were generated.
“It is important to understand that when you lose service from a hurricane it is not the same when you lose it because of a thunderstorm. Yesterday the system operated as it should. It is not that the light went out in a drizzle, it is that the system is made so that the system is made so that the rays do not enter your home. That is why we have up to 70,000 subscribers without electricity, because the system was protected. It is not the rain, what caused the rain is that the brigades can take time to check the system“Ortiz justified.
“It is important to know that when you have this situation it is not that the system is easy, it is that the system is protecting itself as an engineer designed it 40 years ago and it continues to be designed that way. […] The system obviously has old machines. We are working to focus on microgrids and have a system that verifies itself and that a brigade does not have to go to verify it in person, “he said.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that this year hurricane season is 60% above normal.
At the start of the conference, the meteorologist of the National Weather Service Roberto García warned that it is imperative that citizens take into account the forecast since all the weather conditions will be suitable to allow the development of several tropical cyclones.
“It only takes one to cause loss of life and material. Loss of life we do not have to see if we are prepared, because every year we see the formation of systems that leave Africa. But we will always see material losses. […] I always say that Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are on the hurricane highway. What does this mean? That we are right in the area of systems when they move west and, therefore, we have to be prepared from the beginning of the season, “stated García in a recorded message.
Vázquez Garced indicated, also, that the Department of Public Security is prepared to attend any emergency. Specifically, the Bureau of Emergency Management and Disaster Management (NMEAD), according to the governor, performs all the guidelines in collaboration with FEMA to attend to all emergencies if necessary.
“There are 25,109 cots that have been distributed so that each municipality has cots for shelters. There is an inventory of 8,900 cots and another 10,000 that could be distributed by FEMA,” he said.
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