FROM HOPE GAS

 

Hope Gas crews have worked around the clock since the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon to ensure the safety of the community and focus on getting all displaced families returned to their homes.

 

Gas service was fully and safely restored to the community as of Tuesday evening. Since then, Hope Gas crews have been available around the clock to help customers re-light appliances upon return to their homes. Hope Gas follows rigorous safety protocols when restoring service following an outage. The re-light process includes another layer of safety checks on the inside house lines, meters and appliances. There are a few residents in the area that have gas service to their homes, but whose service has not been activated due issues internal to the home/structure that were discovered by Hope in carrying out the necessary re-light procedures. Service will be restored at those locations once the internal issues have been rectified.

 

As of this morning at 7:00 AM, Hope Gas has completed all activities in the area. The holes that were excavated as part of the initial response have been repaired. Temporary resurfacing is complete and final restoration to the road surface will be conducted this Spring.

 

While crews are in the neighborhood, Hope is also replacing a section of pipeline on S. Chestnut Street, and that project will be completed soon. 

 

An investigation regarding this incident is being led by the state Fire Marshal. The investigation is ongoing, and Hope Gas is working with the Fire Marshal and other officials conducting the investigation.

 

We understand this event has raised considerable concern among local residents and thank the community for working with our team throughout the process. Hope Gas would like to reassure the community that the situation is safe. Hope Gas is a highly regulated utility and has strict processes and protocols in place to ensure the safety of our customers and the community. Our highly trained workforce followed all protocols before restoring service and allowing community members back in their homes. Hope Gas personnel will continue to have a presence and survey the area over the next month to reassure residents of the safety of their community. 

 

Hope Gas would like to remind the public that we have a dedicated number for natural gas emergencies and our personnel respond 24/7. The Hope Gas emergency number is 800-934-3187. If you smell an odor of natural gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately, warn others to stay away and from a safe place, call 911 and the Hope Gas emergency hotline.