DATE: Tuesday, November 25, 1997            TAG: 9711250572

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   66 lines

POWER SURGES FRIGHTEN PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS

Residents at the Washington Park public housing community are concerned about their safety following a series of recent power outages and surges.

Residents' televisions, VCRs and other electrical outlets were damaged by the surges, said residents. Now, some fear that their apartments could catch on fire.

Helen M. Person, a longtime civic activist at the complex, said her TV and VCR were destroyed on Nov. 15 by a power surge. She said she awoke at about 9:30 p.m. when she heard a loud boom. She walked into her hallway and smelled a burning odor.

``It scared me to death,'' said Person. ``When I got myself together, I unplugged my appliances.''

But it was too late; Person's television set and VCR were destroyed.

The problems began in September, citizens said, when their electricity went out after a power surge occurred following a storm.

The residents say about 22 apartments were affected; the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority said 15 were involved and that 12 people received reimbursements.

Officials at PRHA say the problem has been corrected.

Person isn't sure. She said that although PRHA sent out maintenance workers to correct the problem on both occasions, she worries that the situation hasn't been resolved.

``Right now you can't sleep at night,'' she said, ``because you wonder if one of these buildings will catch on fire and some child or elderly person will die.''

Ben B. Adderholdt, director of maintenance and modernization at PRHA, said the authority reimbursed 12 residents for damaged appliances and televisions. He said it cost the authority $4,284.

He blamed the first incident on a storm that knocked out the housing community's transformer. The second surge was caused by a loose connection to the transformer.

Adderholdt suggested residents buy surge protectors for their appliances.

Ella D. Riddick, an office specialist in the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's office, said surges occur when the circuit in the electrical line is overloaded. She said surge protectors - costing between $3.99 and $20 - can help protect appliances.

This isn't the first time Washington Park has had difficulties.

Residents moved out temporarily in April when the Environmental Protection Agency discovered elevated levels of lead in several vacant units. A Superfund cleanup followed.

Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons said he tries to be a ``listening post'' for Washington Park citizens. He met with PRHA officials last week to discuss the surge issue. But he said that there are still problems in how the residents are treated by PRHA officials.

Person said a number of citizens were rudely treated when they discussed their electrical problems with agency officials.

Dorothy M. Southall, Person's neighbor, said when she reported that her television set had been destroyed, officials with PRHA said it wasn't worth enough to be reimbursed.

``It didn't make me feel very good,'' said Southall.

Southall said she bought her set from a reputable store.

``They think that just because I'm black and poor and live in subsidized housing that I don't deserve to be treated right,'' said Person. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

TAMARA VONINSKI, The Virginian-Pilot

Helen Person, a Washington Park resident, said her TV and VCR were

destroyed by a power surge. ``It scared me to death.''

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