Monday, September 24, 2018

Update on Ongoing Recovery Efforts - North Andover/Andover/Lawrence




Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency


MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STATEMENT #12

Monday, September 24, 2018

3:00 PM

 

Re: Update on Ongoing Recovery Efforts - North Andover/Andover/Lawrence

 

Situation

 

Gas service to 8,570 gas meters in portions of Lawrence, North Andover, and Andover remains shut off as a result of the gas line incident on September 13th.  Most buildings serviced by these meters are without heat and hot water, and gas appliances, including gas stoves and gas dryers, are inoperable.  The target date for full restoration of gas service is November 19, 2018.  Restoration will take place on a rolling basis.

 

Breakdown of the impacted gas meters by community:

 

Community
Impacted Meters
Lawrence
5015
Andover
2038
North Andover
1517
Total
8570

 

Number of residential buildings/units served by the impacted meters:

 

Community
Impacted Residences
Lawrence
4237
Andover
1437
North Andover
1093
Total
6767

 

Map of impacted area:


 

Map of Impacted Non-Residential Customers


 

 

Restoration of Service to Non-Impacted Meters

 

In the immediate aftermath of the fires and explosions on September 13th, many gas customers in Lawrence, North Andover, Andover, Methuen and Haverhill who were not on the impacted gas line shut off their meters/service out of an abundance of caution. In total, approximately 10,436 meters that are not fed by the impacted gas line were shutoff. Gas company crews from Columbia gas and other companies have been working to turn on the gas to these meters and fully restore gas service to the homes and businesses that are fed by these meters.  As of 5 PM on September 22, service to 10,400 meters had been restored.  Columbia Gas continues to work on restoring service to the remaining 36 meters.

 

Repair, Replacement and Restoration Activities

 

The target date for full restoration of gas service is November 19, 2018.  Restoration will take place on a rolling basis.

 

Exterior Repair and Replacement Activities

 

Columbia Gas has announced that approximately 49 miles of below-ground gas pipe needs to be replaced.  Construction work to replace the pipe has already begun.

 

Number of construction teams working today: 58.

 

By Friday, Columbia anticipates there will be 122 construction crews working in the three communities, with the following breakdown:

 

Community
Construction Crew
Lawrence
71 
Andover
40
North Andover
11 
Total
122 

 

Progress report:

  • Approximately 412 of 301,334 feet of main line pipe has already been replaced
  • Service lines to 30 of 6,100 residential units has already been replaced

 

Interior Repair, Replacement and Mitigation Activities

 

  • Distribution of Hot Plates:  On September 22-23, Columbia Gas, supported by the National Guard, began delivering electric hot plates to its customers in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. 

 

On September 22-23, 750 hot plates were delivered to customers in North Andover.  Customers in North Attleboro who want a hot plate should call 855-218-8816 to schedule delivery. 

 

On September 22-23, 812 hot plates were delivered to customers in Andover.  Customers in Andover who want a hot plate should call 855-218-8816 to schedule delivery. 

 

On September 22-23, hot plates were delivered door-to-door to customers in Lawrence.  In total, 5,120 hot plates were delivered in Lawrence.  Customers who were not home at the time of delivery can call Columbia Gas to schedule a delivery.  Columbia Gas Company phone number: 855-218-8816. 

 

To date, 6,682 hot plates have been delivered:

    • 5,120 in Lawrence
    • 750 in North Andover
    • 812 in Andover

 

All personnel delivering hot plates to customers will be wearing a white identification card issued by Columbia Gas.

 

  • Distribution of Space Heaters and Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors:  Beginning on September 24th, Columbia Gas, supported by the National Guard, is delivering space heaters and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors to residential customers in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover. 

 

Customers in Andover and North Andover who want space heaters and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors delivered to their homes must call Columbia Gas to schedule delivery.  Columbia Gas Company phone number: 855-218-8816.  A licensed electrician will accompany the delivery team and will inspect the electrical service in each home to determine whether, and how many space heaters can be safely used in the premises. Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors will also be installed in the spaces where space heaters will be used.

 

In Lawrence, space heaters and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors will be delivered door-to-door to residential gas customers.  A licensed electrician will accompany the delivery team and will inspect the electrical service in each home to determine whether, and how many space heaters can be safely used in the premises. Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors will also be installed in the spaces where space heaters will be used. Customers who are not home at the time of delivery can call Columbia Gas to schedule a delivery.  Columbia Gas Company phone number: 855-218-8816.

 

All personnel delivering space heaters to customers will be wearing a white identification card issued by Columbia Gas.

 

Home Assessments:  On Wednesday, September 26, and continuing for several weeks, teams of licensed plumbers and electricians, and linguists where necessary, will begin visiting every impacted residence to do a full electrical and plumbing assessment and determine what appliances need to be replaced or repaired. To the extent possible, repairs will take place during the assessment.  This assessment will help prepare customers to have gas service restored safely. Residents will receive a communication from Columbia Gas to confirm the assessment so they can plan to be home. It will take several weeks for all assessments to be completed.  All personnel on the assessment teams will be wearing a white identification card issued by Columbia Gas.

 

Similar assessments of the 800 impacted businesses began on September 22nd.

 

  • Installations:  Beginning on September 29th and continuing into November, licensed plumbers and electricians, appliance technicians, and linguists where necessary, will begin visiting impacted residences and businesses to install new gas appliances, such as boilers, furnaces, hot water heaters, stoves and dryers.  All personnel on the installation teams will be wearing a white identification card issued by Columbia Gas.

 

Updates

  • Columbia Gas will be deploying liaisons to the city/town halls in all three communities to enhance communication and coordination between the gas company and the municipal governments.  The liaisons will be in place by Wednesday.
  • Columbia Gas is identifying locations in each community to serve as Customer Care Centers.  The Customer Care Centers will be supported by mobile customer service vans.
  • Columbia Gas is installing a CNG trailer at the Holiday Inn Express in Lawrence as a temporary solution for providing heat and hot water to the hotel.

 

Key Columbia Gas Phone Numbers

  • Customer Service Hotline for Affected Customers:  866-388-3239
  • Property Claims Number:  800-590-5571
  • Support for Affected Businesses: 978-556-8917
  • Hotel Placement by Columbia: 866-294-9226
  • To schedule delivery of hot plates and space heaters: 855-218-8816
  • Emergency number: 888-525-8222

More information from Columbia Gas is available at:  www.columbiagasma.com

 

Safety Information for People in Buildings Without Gas Service

  • If you smell gas or smoke, notice damage to gas appliances, or other potential emergency situations, step outside and call 9-1-1.
  • If you need non-emergency assistance, please call 2-1-1. 
  • Do not attempt to use any gas appliances until gas service has been safely restored by the gas company.
  • If your gas meter has been shut off by either the gas company or you, DO NOT attempt to turn your service back on yourself. Please contact the gas company for assistance; they will send a technician to turn it back on.
  • If you smell an odor of natural gas,
    • Leave the building immediately and move to a safe location
    • Call 911 from outside the building and call the Columbia Gas emergency number at 1-800-525-8222.
    • Do not turn off gas to your house or to any appliances.
    • Do not try to find the leak yourself or operate pipeline valves.
    • Do not touch light switches or use any appliances that could cause a spark, including telephones.
    • Do not light matches or candles.
  • If you use a grill to cook, place it at least 10 feet away from your home or anything that can burn. Grills should not be used on porches or inside homes.
  • Use extension cords safely. Do not overload them and always plug heavy-duty appliances, such as air conditioners and space heaters, directly into wall outlets.
  • Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are working. The battery backup in plug-in or hardwired alarms may need to be replaced after the extended power outage.
  • Be a good neighbor.  Check on family. Friends, neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live along, those with medical conditions, and those who may need additional assistance. 

 

Recovery Assistance:

Residents of impacted homes may access social, health, government and community services by calling 2-1-1.  Trained 2-1-1 operators will conduct a brief intake and connect callers to government, non-profit and private sector agencies and organizations in the Greater Lawrence area  that can address their needs.

Columbia Gas has established the following phone number for people who need immediate emergency housing assistance from Columbia as a result of the gas incident on September 13th:  866-294-9226.  As of Sunday, September 23rd, 104 families comprising 342 people are staying in hotel rooms.  There are no emergency shelters operating at this time.

 

Columbia Gas Claims Centers:

Customers who have been impacted by the gas emergency can file claims at Columbia Claims Centers in the three communities, or by calling 1-800-590-5571.  Columbia Gas will compensate its customers for all losses reasonably related to this incident, including, among others, losses in the following categories: 1) bodily injury; 2) damage to property; 3) disruption of businesses; 4) inconvenience and disruption of everyday activities caused by loss of use of gas service due to this event; 5) reasonable efforts to limit or mitigate the loss.

Columbia Gas will reimburse customers for reasonable costs of permanently switching to an alternative fuel source (e.g. electric or oil) for appliances or systems that were fueled by natural gas prior to the outage.  If you wish to temporarily switch to appliances and systems that are fueled by sources other than natural gas for the duration of the outage, and then return to gas-fueled appliances, Columbia Gas will reimburse for reasonable costs associated with both the temporary solution as well as the return to gas-fueled appliances and systems.

Customers may elect to contract directly with an appropriate certified licensed contractor to install appliances and systems that are fueled by an alternative fuel source (e.g. electric or oil).  If you do hire such a contractor, Columbia Gas requests that the licensed contractor provide you detailed receipts, including your name, service address, make/model of parts, and labor, so that Columbia Gas may reimburse you for reasonable costs.

Claims Center locations:

  • Lawrence: Property Claims Center at 1 Market Street, Lawrence.
  • Andover: Property Claims Center, Old Town Hall, 20 Main Street, Andover.
  • North Andover: Property Claims Center, First & Main Plaza (adjacent to CVS), 115 Main Street, North Andover.

Information about the claims process is available at: https://www.columbiagas.com/massachusetts/make-a-claim

 

Disaster Fund:

In response to the overwhelming needs facing those affected, Governor Charlie Baker has announced the establishment of the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund through Essex County Community Foundation. Donations to the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund can be made at http://eccf.org/GLdisasterrelieffund.  To date, Columbia Gas has committed $10 Million to this fund. 

Community Information

City of Lawrence:


 Town of Andover:

  • For information from Andover, please visit https://andoverma.gov/
  • Hot showers are available at Pomp’s Pond, 147 Abbot Street.  There also is a shower for people with mobility impairments at the Andover Senior Center, 30 Whittier Court.

 Town of North Andover:


Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)

Utilizing the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the States of New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and New York have entered into agreements with MEMA to deploy state pipeline inspectors to Massachusetts to support the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities in its work inspecting the pipeline construction in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

 

Posted by Bruce Tarr at 3:42 PM