Cleanup wears It's the fourth day of being locked out of home, and hundreds of Halawa housing residents are getting angry. They were told yesterday by Department of Health officials that the cleanup of mercury contamination at the 223-unit Puuwai Momi housing is likely to continue for another week.
on residents
A mercury poisoning threat
By Mary Adamski
keeps them out of their homes
Star Bulletin"I know it's an emergency and I'm trying to understand, but people can't afford this and they aren't getting much help," said Polima Danielson. Her husband, Oscar, is one of several people who have missed work because he couldn't get home to get his work clothes.
The couple was among more than 60 people who lined up at the barricaded entrance to the housing project yesterday for their first chance to enter their homes to collect clothes and supplies. They were escorted by sheriff's deputies, required to don booties, and forced to make it a quick trip.
No one had been allowed to return home since the quarantine was imposed Monday after Aiea students were found to be carrying elemental mercury.
Youngsters have been taking the potentially toxic liquid metal from an abandoned pump house on state land formerly held by the federal government. Officials believe unknown quantities of the metal have been stored and splashed around the project for weeks.
"We can't let you guys go back in there if it's going to hurt your health," a group of displaced residents was told last night by Gary Gill, Department of Health deputy director for environmental services. "Your kids could be mentally damaged by exposure."
Gill told them that carpets will be taken out if mercury is found in fibers, and contaminated clothes "will be sequestered in bags and treated" before they can be reclaimed.
Ronald Lopes lost his job yesterday because he carried some of the mercury to work. A tire changer at Lex Brodie, Lopes let some mercury spill into a tool box Sunday, he said. When it was found, the Health Department was called to determine the extent. "Today, they told me I was fired."
Ervin Gilman said, "I already know my place is a hot point," because his 12-year-old daughter kept and played with mercury in the house.
"Yesterday they said the reading in my place was 0.5 and 0.1 is considered safe." Technicians from Pacific Environmental Co., wearing spacesuit-like gear, had swept a total of 73 apartments by yesterday.
Gilman has been sleeping his van, parked across from the housing entrance, which is barricaded and guarded by sheriff's deputies and private security guards.
Gilman, his wife and six children go to Sand Island Park to take showers and eat their meals at the American Red Cross shelter at Halawa gymnasium.
"Now is two weeks since welfare checks," Gilman said. "People can't afford to go Zippy's."
About 70 people have spent each night at the shelter.
Residents were allowed to return to units in five of the 22 buildings yesterday.
"Some units we can clear in a couple of hours," Gill told the residents. "But there's a hot unit we're working on all day and it's not clear." He declined to predict when other units will be ready for returning occupants.
About 100 residents showed up for voluntary mercury screening at Makalapa Community Center and the Halawa Recreation Center. Health officials said the screening would assess the extent of exposure and to reassure residents.
There have been no confirmed cases of poisoning.
Nuu Ware learned that her washer was removed, and the clothing inside. "Who's going to reimburse me for that?"
She and other residents expressed dissatisfaction with the state and Red Cross for failing to disseminate information.
"We don't have anybody going to bat for us," Ware said. "The Red Cross says see the Health Department, the housing authority says it's not their problem. Who takes care of us?"
Fanning the disgruntlement is the sight of many residents on the inside of the fence. People who were home when the housing was quarantined have been allowed to remain. But if anyone decides to leave, they may not return.
"They should have evacuated everybody," said Gilman. He said he is concerned about the security of apartments standing empty.
Ware said she and her children have slept outside the Hawaii Housing Authority office across the street.
Keith Gardner, a security guard, said he has not worked since the crisis developed. "I got to get my uniforms, diapers for the baby. . . . I'd like to get my car out but they won't let me. If this keeps costing people, I think we got grounds for suing."