Power outage at OCCC forces use of back-up generator and no air-conditioning

News Release from DPS, July 11, 2016

HONOLULU – The Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) is working with various local electrical contractors to locate and fix a power supply problem that is affecting the facility. The electrical outage began on Friday afternoon. Back-up generators kicked in immediately. All modules are secure. The air conditioning is not hooked into the generator system.

“Our correctional staff are trained for situations such as these. Despite the uncomfortable conditions, they are doing an excellent job providing a safe and secure environment for staff as well as inmates, and at no time has there been any risk to public safety,” said Nolan Espinda, Public Safety Director.

In order to help alleviate the uncomfortable conditions, staff have been allowing inmates to have longer recreational periods in the outside rec yard. They are also looking at alternative ways to cool down the modules while the electricity problem is being assessed.

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AC Will Remain on Generator until Part Arrives

Star-Adv July 12: …The Department of Public Safety said full power was (sort of) restored at the aging 41-year-old prison facility at 10 p.m. The Kalihi prison, which is only supposed to house 954 inmates, currently houses 1,162 inmates.

A generator is still being used to power the air conditioning for the entire facility.  (Translation: Full power is not restored.)

The Department of Public Safety said the air conditioning will remain on the generator until a faulty transformer can be replaced. The part has been ordered….

read … Power Restored, Sort of

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KHON: An extra generator will be brought in Monday evening to power the air conditioner

HNN: OCCC days without power, some call conditions 'inhumane'

WHT: Back-up generators are powering the jail, but air conditioning isn’t connected to the generator system

SA: OCCC running on backup generators following power outage