Media Relations Office:
Bart Graves, Media Relations Administrator
1601 W. Jefferson
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
(602) 542-3133

Director Thanks ADC Staff

The power outage at ASPC-Lewis earlier this week was of concern to all of us. Complex staff and our co-workers from other prisons performed with excellence. Everyone worked tirelessly and successfully. Compliance by the inmate population is testimony to your phenomenal response to a critical situation. You are all to be congratulated.

Summary

Around 1600 hours, Sunday, July 24, ASPC-Lewis, Eagle Point juvenile institution and homes/businesses in the area lost power after a micro burst hit.

Emergency power was available for Medical and basic electronic security systems.

IMS was activated; TSU was recalled, additional medical personnel was assembled on site.

Command centers were established at the complex and central office. ADJC provided liaisons to Lewis' Incident Command Post and the ADC Emergency Operations Center.

The physcal plant accomodated auxiliary generators to provide power to operate Morey and Buckley units, the housing units at Rast, and detention units at Stiner and Bachman.

ADC secured additional ice (7 deliveries, each 37,000 pounds of ice) and bottled water (62,000 bottles).

Wal-Mart also donated 6 pallets of bottled water and Maricopa County Jail donated and delivered another 16,000 pounds of ice.

ASPC-Perryville prepared about 31,220 meals during the power outage to feed inmates at ASPC-Lewis and Eagle Point.

Preferred power was fully restored to Eagle Point on July 25 at time at 1900 hours.

Preferred power was fully restored to ASPC-Lewis at 1610 hours on July 26.

APS projections for power restoration were unreliable throughout the entire incident.

The temperature in the units was as high as 87 - 100+ degrees during the outage. There were no serious heat related medical emergencies.

Staff response

On-duty day shift staff was held over to ensure security needs were met.

All ASPC-Lewis staff reported as scheduled and virtually everyone at the complex worked one or more double shifts throughout the power outage.

ASPC-Lewis, Perryville and Eyman each supplied 2 squads of tactical officers for extra coverage throughout the event.

Another 191 staff from ASPC-Eyman, Florence, Phoenix and Yuma also worked security posts, and otherwise fulfilling incident-specific duties.

American Red Cross volunteers were on site at Lewis Monday night and Tuesday as well to serve to staff meals, snacks and beverages that it donated for our employees.

The complex also set up cooling stations for staff.

Other challenges

Both well pumps at the complex that provide water to the prison and ADJC failed on July 25 at 0945 hours. Replacement well pumps were located and installed at 1500 hours.

There were several isolated inmate incidents at Barchey and Morey during the power outage. Staff quickly, effectively resolved each issue.

A formal de-brief will be conducted shortly and its results shared with you through your administrative team.
 

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