By Dani Valdez
Before we went to bed on Saturday, November 27th, we took some time to smell our water. I know that sounds extremely weird but please bear with me.
Earlier that night many of our neighbors were complaining of a gas-like smell coming from their sinks, our community’s social media page started going off into comments with others mentioning the same issue. When we heard of what was happening, we decided to smell our water. The fuel-like smell instantly gave me a headache and to our surprise every sink and shower head in our home spouted water with the same terrible smell. We went to bed that night wondering what would happen next, but we had no idea how disturbing everything would become.
The next day the U.S Navy made its first announcement communicating that they were aware of the reports of possible fuel in the water however they had no immediate indication of this being an issue.
By Monday morning, most of the houses in our military housing community in Hawaii, which is overseen by the U.S Army were sharing their findings. Not only was our water smelling like fuel but with every cup we filled we noticed a sheen film toping our glasses. The panic started spreading and quickly we were rushing to the stores for water bottles. Target, Costco, commissary, they were all starting to run out of water.
At this point no one knew what was truly happening, however we knew not to drink the water. Something was in our water and our community needed answers. We started using water bottles for hand washing, cooking, showering, and staying hydrated while we questioned our property managers about the foul smell. The U.S Army Garrison Hawaii shared their 1st announcement on the issue and stated that more stringent tests were being made, but until results came back, each household was told to run the water to help in possibly flushing all contaminants.
By Wednesday, it all started to click and it all became a rollercoaster of emotions after the preliminary tests done by the Department of Health detected petroleum in the water. Weeks before our water smelled, our kids were sick with cold-like symptoms and stomach issues that seemed to not go away. Well, we were not the only ones feeling the symptoms of possible fuel poisoning. Families all over started noticing skin rashes, fevers, headaches, nausea, stomach problems… adults, kids and pets were getting sick with no real answer on what was going on. The same day, the Army set up their 1st Town Hall meeting at the community center to address all questions and concerns and stated that their priority was helping our families.
On Thursday, “Task Force Ohana” took over our community setting up a help desk at the community center, creating a camp with tents and different stations to provide help. I call it our “Ground Zero.”
The Army started offering showers, water delivery, medical screenings, financial help, laundry and lodging or moving options. That night, our family waited over 3 hours in line with our 2 children in tow to receive lodging assistance; we knew we could not stay home and that our children needed something more suitable. The whole time we were in line we were offered drinks, snacks, meals by the soldiers and volunteers. Even though we felt extremely stressed and we were exhausted from the previous days we for once felt as if someone finally cared. Someone stepped up to care for their own while the Navy still denied fuel in the water and said we could still consume it if no odors were found.
That night we returned home, and an hour later we received a call offering us lodging for our family, however we had to check-in as soon as possible before our spot was taken. At midnight, my husband went to check-in along with many other people; it took him over 1 hour of standing in line to be finally checked in. That night we were told by the Army that our lodging would be on them and that we would be offered meals as well. However, things changed the next morning when they changed the contract and meals were not going to be provided. For many families displaced this is huge; we cannot cook at home with contaminated water, we can’t boil the fuel out of the water and we also cannot spend hundreds of dollars eating out. So, what do we do?
With meals being an issue, the U.S Army stepped up even further and decided to provide hot meals to the community. Breakfast, lunch and dinner would be served daily. And now we are receiving TLA and Per Diem to cover costs due to displacement.
By Saturday, the Army strategized a school bus pick up and drop off service for the families with kids staying in lodging downtown to be taken care of and driven to school. The contract with many hotels only offered the families 1 vehicle parking, this has been a big issue for many families since routines are planned based on having transportation.
Currently, families staying in lodging are driving back and forth daily or multiple times a week to check on their homes, go to work, check on pets, appointments, pick up water, seek medical treatment, do laundry and more. Some families are looking into the possibility to PCS early, do an early return of dependents, and some are moving houses.
Every day we are being reminded to NOT use our water at home. It is such a basic necessity that we completely take for granted and this crisis has been eye-opening. It has now been over a week since we smelled our water and almost a full week since we like many families have been staying in lodging away from our daily comforts and changing our routine for the safety of our families. Little did we know that this has been on going since June and we have been drinking, cooking, bathing and going about life with fuel in our water. All because 14,000 gallons of fuel leaked and contaminated our water supply.
Our water crisis has been one of the worst experiences I’ve had to deal with throughout my life as a veteran and as a military spouse but one thing I am thankful for is how tight our community has become since we realized what was happening and how much stronger and resilient we are due to this disaster.
Can you believe that? And I know many might not be able to relate, but if I ask you to relate to one thing… Can you relate to the fact that our community is fighting for the safety of their families and if you were put in the same spot, wouldn’t you do the same?
Our future is unknown, we do not know how things will be tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now… years from now. We do not know if we might develop illnesses down the road, we do not know if our children will be ok. I ask that you share this, that you reach out to your friends and to the families in Hawaii that have been affected, I ask that you support non-profits helping us receive water and other items, I ask that you help us be our voice while no one else seems to be listening.
Our military community is hurting, we need better, we deserve clean and safe water. We deserve the basic necessity we will never ever take for granted again.
