American Power Electric crews are working diligently to restore power to South Padre Island, and they now estimate incremental power restoration in 3-6 days.
According to AEP officials, Island areas will begin to see power in three days, and the Island will likely be at full service in six days.
A Town Hall meeting was held Friday with more than 300 attending. Although the SPI Emergency Management Team regularly provides updates via print, radio, TV and Internet media and street-to-street notifications, without power, communication can be difficult and the Town Hall meeting was the best avenue to provide the latest information.
Those who do not reside on the Island, but receive updates, are encouraged to inform their friends and families who do reside on the Island.
Access to the Island remains restricted to residents and persons with necessary business on the Island. This is for safety and security reasons.
Due to the power conditions, a 9 p.m. daily curfew remains until power is restored. Avoid any contact with downed power lines.
AEP urges the community to unplug or turn off washers, dryers and other major appliances and electronic equipment like televisions, VCRs and computers. Turn them on one at a time when power is restored. If several large appliances start up at once when power is restored, they may overload your home's electric circuits.
If you use a portable generator, DO NOT plug the generator into your circuit box. Portable generators "back-feed" electricity up the line and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Plug appliances directly into the generator.
State emergency officials will continue to distribute supplies to the South Padre Island community at the Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark until power is restored. Hours are currently sporadic due to the needs of the entire Rio Grande Valley. Supplies include bottled water, bagged ice, food and hygiene packets. The Salvation Army is also distributing hot meals at the same location.
Water was restored. However, it is currently unsafe for consumption. The Laguna Madre Water District issued a water advisory until further notice. Water for drinking, cooking and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. For more information on the advisory, call (956) 572-0314, (956) 371-3131, or (956) 572-0316.
Allied Waste is operating its normal residential pick-up schedule. An additional site has been set-up at Island Baptist Church, 107 Mesquite, for trash drop-off. Debris may be placed for pick-up at residential curbs. An additional debris drop-off site is the north parking lot of the Convention Centre.
According to the State Attorney General's Office, property owners along the Gulf Coast are cautioned to be wary of home repair scam artists and other fraudulent businesses in the aftermath of stormy weather.
When consumers turn to businesses for services to help in the clean-up and rebuilding process, they should consider these tips:
- Deal only with licensed or bonded contractors or builders;
- Call your insurance adjuster to get an estimate of the damage and repair cost;
- Be wary of contractors who solicit services door-to-door, especially those from another city or companies unfamiliar to you;
- Get the salesperson's license plate number;
- Don't be rushed into signing a contract, and never pay up-front for promised work;
- Secure the terms of any warranty work in writing; and
- Ask for references, or rely on recommendations from friends or relatives who have had experience with honest contractors.
Those who believe they have been deceived by fraudulent business practices, may call the Office of the Attorney General's toll-free complaint line at (800) 252-8011 or file a complaint online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.
THE COMMUNITY IS URGED TO PLEASE CALL (956) 433-1231 OR (956) 761-3802 FOR MORE INFORMATION.