Supporting Residents, Communication, The First Step During Blackouts

Power outages seem to be a perennial issue in Lakewood. Residents can usually expect outages after thunderstorms, due to fallen powerlines, or fallen tree limbs. But a few weeks ago, in over 90 degree heat and on a cheerfully sunny day, the lights went out for reasons that are still a mystery to most Lakewood residents like me on the West End. 

During the outage, my phone, social media and email were almost immediately filled with messages - some from neighbors wondering what was going on, others calling for help for refrigerated items like insulin and perishable foods, and others from seniors who worried about heat exhaustion with the loss of A/C. I spent the next 8 hours coordinating resources, putting residents in touch with local organizations and trying again and again to reach someone at FirstEnergy who could provide some answers. At 2am, I was finally able to get a representative from FirstEnergy’s Facebook page to give me a direct line I could call in the morning. At 9am,  I was told by First Energy that they had no idea why the lights went out in the first place.

Residents have continued to experience power outages since. The power even went out during a recent city council meeting (though quickly restored). Though city council was able to keep on track during the outage, tweeting photos, and continuing the people’s business, many residents say they wish local leaders would notify them as soon as outages occur and keep them updated throughout these events. 

Communication is critical during adverse events, even those that may be seen as temporary or low risk, like a power outage. Those with limited income, seniors, and people with medical conditions that require access to oxygen tanks, refrigerated medicines or food, air conditioning, or power wheelchairs are increasingly at risk. Luckily, Lakewood is part of the Westshore Community Emergency Response Team (or CERT), sponsored by the Westshore Governments Council. CERT is a volunteer-based organization that supports safety forces and first responders to help prevent, prepare for and mitigate emergencies and disasters. 

As part of FEMA during the Federal COVID Response, I worked with CERT teams in other states and saw how vital their services were to patients quarantined and unable to leave their homes for basic necessities or medical care. I was able to speak to one of Lakewood’s CERT representatives, resident Jessica S. Cotton, who says that CERT is something that could be utilized by Lakewood more often. 

“A few weeks ago, a good number of Lakewood residents experienced a power outage with...power turning on and going back off for hours for several days with no community information to follow the power outage,” says Jessica. “ Westshore CERT could have been utilized [to] go... through the neighborhoods to check on residents and hand out emergency information while...first responders continued to do their duties.”  In January 2019, nearly 200 homes were without heat during the Dominion Gas outage in Rocky River. “CERT knocked on every door to check on residents and give them information on emergency shelters.” 

According to Jessica, CERT can also assist with non-emergency projects that improve community safety, like helping to distribute and/or install smoke alarms, replace smoke alarm batteries in the homes of seniors, distribute disaster education materials, and provide services at special events, such as parades, sporting events, and concerts.  “Utilizing CERT and the Cuyahoga County ReadNotify system for emergency notifications, helps to send out rapid and accurate information essential for residents’ immediate safety,” Jessica says.

I know first hand how much of a support simple communication would have been during the outage to my family, as well as to others reaching out for help that day.  Something as simple as a text message, or automated phone call, coupled with making sure we maximize valuable resources like CERT could do a great deal of good for Lakewood residents in need during recurring events like these. With this valuable resource right at our fingertips, I hope we consider a plan to do so.