09/15/2010 3:30 a.m. Power surge creates dynamic burst at the ranch. On site caregivers frantically turn off all breakers and ensure the animals are safe. Caregivers stay up to ensure no fires are started.
Computers are destroyed, barn outlet is melted, office PC is smoking. We are so incredibly thankful that all of the animals are safe!
9/15/2010 6 a.m. - SRP is called. Independent Electrician is called. The finding is that the wire behind the SRP meter is melted. SRP says WHRR owns the wiring. Note: SRP replaced the meter in March 2010 and were the last ones to see/touch the wiring behind the meter. The independent electrician sees that the wire behind the meter was loose, causing sparks and therefore probably melting the wire housing to cause the surge. SRP disconnects WHRR from the main power source.
Electrician informs WHRR that cost to replace just the breaker box is $2500 to $3000, but that the rest of the ranch is not up to code. Cost to bring the ranch up to code and provide a safe environment for the rescued animals and the onsite caregivers is roughly $25,000 to $30,000.
9/15/2010 KPHO Ch5 does an interview to run on their evening news and helps bring in much needed funding and awareness for animals in need. Watch the Ch 5 News Video here.
9/16/2010 - WHRR sets up make-shift office at Skip DeNardo's home in Gilbert. Onsite staff, Kim Meagher, McKay Machina and their 4 rescue dogs are temporarily staying with friends until the power is restored.
9/18/2010 - We have raised $4037.00 to help care for the herd and cats while we work toward a solution for the enormous electrical replacement costs.
9/20/2010 - FOX 10 News runs 2 stories to help out and Mesa Tribune does an article to help our horses.
9/21/2010 - SRP is coming out on 9/22/2010 to look at the box and determine what exactly happened. We also have an electrician coming out to give us another cost estimate on repairs and help us figure out a GREEN solution using Solar! So far, we have raised $7,000 toward the repair bill...only $18,000 more to go. Feels like a horse telethon. :)
9/23/2010 - Representatives from SRP came out. They determined that it was not an SRP issue that caused the melted wires. However, they decided to help us by paying for the box to be repaired to its state before the surge occurred. Thank you to SRP!!! This will allow us to have electric while we raise the funds to bring the box up to code and to replace the old wiring at the ranch to make it safe. We have raised $10,124 so far. We have about $15,000 more to go to. We are also looking at solar options. The items listed here were damaged beyond repair will have to be purchased: Two Sound Systems, 1 office phone, the patio lights and side corral lights still do not work even with the temporary repair to the main box (we need these for our outdoor events), 1 TV, 2 computers, 2 window A/C units. We have received donations of computers, a donation of a TV and a donation of a solar unit. THANK YOU to everyone that has been helping us out! We appreciate it so much.
9/24/2010 - We just checked the Jacuzzi that was donated for our volunteers and found that the pumps were blown in the surge. We had just gotten it set up and running and were pretty excited to offer this to the people that work in the barn and muck stalls. :-(
10/04/2010 - Thanks to the help of so many people, we are getting things back in order at the ranch. The jacuzzi is now fixed. The lights at the patio are working and all have new outlets. The side corral lights are working. We are planning a big celebration toward the end of October and will invite everyone.
Please help!
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Wildhorse Ranch Rescue, Inc. aka Wildhorse 501(c)(3) charity ~ Established 1995 Mailing Address for ALL correspondence: PO Box 3080 Gilbert, AZ 85299-3080 Physical Addresses: WHQ ~ Wildhorse Head Quarters 11811 S Lindsay Road Gilbert, AZ 85296
W@PP ~ Wildhorse at Pixie's Playground - Certified Foster Facility - San Tan Valley, AZ
W66 - Wildhorse 66 ~ 3555 W Old Hwy Ash Fork, AZ 86320 Phone: (866) 926-8007 General inquires ~ office@wildhorse.org / Volunteering ecreeger@wildhorse.org
