FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018

Media contact: John Guilfoil
Email: john@jgpr.net
Phone: 617-993-0003

Town of Andover Provides Update on Gas Emergency

ANDOVER — Town Manager Andrew P. Flanagan, Police Chief Patrick Keefe, Fire Chief Michael B. Mansfield, and Andover’s town government department heads seek to continuously update residents on the status of restoration efforts in the aftermath of the Merrimack Valley gas emergency.

Columbia Gas has begun making phone calls to streets whose homes will undergo a single assessment for appliance replacement, gas line testing, and, if necessary, space heater/temporary heating installation.

Columbia Gas will be making automated phone calls at least 72 hours before crews begin working in neighborhoods, and work will be done on a rolling basis.

Columbia will not be making individual appointments, but will notify the town which streets will be receiving assessments several days in advance. 

The assessment teams consist of licensed plumbers and electricians, appliance technicians, and linguists where necessary. The assessments are expected to continue through Oct. 19.

The following streets are scheduled for assessments today, Sunday, Sept. 30:

• Bartlett Street
• Central Street
• Chapman Street
• Chestnut Street
• Judson Road
• Locke Street
• Main Street
• Morton Street
• N. Main Street
• Old South Land
• School Street

Columbia Gas previously informed the town that the following streets would also be scheduled for assessment on Sunday:

• Kensington Street
• Martingale Lane
• Poor Street
• Sherbourne Street
• William Street

The following streets are scheduled for assessments on Monday, Oct. 1:

• Buxton Court
• Elm Street
• Essex Street
• Lewis Street
• Main Street
• North Main Street
• Sweeney Court

Columbia Gas has released a Frequently Asked Questions document in order to help residents learn more about the assessment process.

The assessment will include the following steps:

1. First, the assessors will evaluate and inventory gas-fueled appliances. Specifically, representatives ill evaluate the furnace or boiler for repairs and inventory for replacement of gas water heaters and all other gas-fueled appliances. Photos will be taken so that Columbia Gas can replace gas-fueled appliances with like kind and quality appliances.
2. Second, Columbia Gas will pressure test in-home gas piping to see if it is damaged.
3. Finally, if a resident has not yet had a space heat assessment, an assessment of the electrical capacity of the home will be performed. If the home has the electrical capacity to safely support a space heater, the assessment teams will provide one during the visit. If needed, Columbia will install smoke alarms/CO detectors.

Click here to download the complete FAQ

Click here to download a briefing packet on this process that was provided to the city and town governments from Columbia Gas.

A total of 2,038 gas meters are in the affected zone in Andover.

Andover will deploy town resources each day to support the assessment effort and assist residents.

Main Gas Line Repair Work

Areas under construction each day will be announced via the news media, town website and social media. The town will also make use of its CodeRed emergency notification service to residents affected areas as necessary.

Full restoration is expected to be completed by approximately Nov. 19.

Columbia Gas has published a “Frequently Asked Questions” page on its website for those in both the affected and unaffected zones. Click here to access that resource.

Andover residents and visitors are asked to refrain from parking on metal construction plates placed on the road temporarily during the rolling construction process. The gas company is in and out of these holes throughout the day. They are working on more temporary “No Parking” signs to make it a little more conspicuous.

Approximately 6,324 of 301,334 feet of main line pipe have been replaced. Service lines to more than 40 of 6,100 residential units have been replaced. A total of 68 business customers in the three communities have also had gas service restored.

Job Fair

Columbia Gas will hold a career fair on Monday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m at the ValleyWorks Career Center in Lawrence.

Other Columbia Gas Updates

Columbia Gas has deployed liaisons to the city/town halls in all three communities to enhance communication and coordination between the gas company and the municipal governments.

Columbia Gas is also finalizing the locations of long-term customer care centers in all three communities.

As of today, Columbia Gas reported there would be 122 construction crews working in the three communities, according to MEMA.

Food Service Updates

Approximately 25 Andover restaurants remain unable to open or have been forced to offer limited food service.

The Andover Public Health Division is working directly with restaurant owners to help them during the recovery phase.

Restaurants must have running hot water for hand-washing purposes to meet the minimum requirements for food service. Hot water is also needed for wash/rinse/sanitize operations for utensils, pots, dishes, etc.

The town has streamlined the process for restaurants seeking to permanently or temporarily change fuel sources. Andover Fire Rescue is making staff available to review sketches and plans for new fuel sources, and the Health Division has staff standing by at 978-623-8640 to discuss the implementation of any operational changes that help restaurants re-open.

Restaurants may also obtain propane permits to use outdoor grills for cooking, so long as prep work and plating occur in a sanitary indoor kitchen environment.

Finally, the Health Division is aware of a number of reputable vendors supplying temporary kitchen trailers to help get restaurants up and running. Click here for a list of vendors and other useful guidelines from the Health Division.

Small Business Loan Program

Governor Charlie Bake, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash, Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera, North Andover Town Manager Andrew Maylor and Andover Town Manager Flanagan late last week announced a $1 million emergency loan program for businesses impacted by the gas emergency.

The fund will offer emergency loans to eligible businesses with no payments and no interest for the first six months. For businesses that extend beyond a six month period, market rates will apply and loans will be able to be extended or restructured for multi-year term loans.

The fund will open October 1 and have an expedited application and approval process, with the goal of getting all applications processed within 24 and 48 hours.

For more information visit: www.wearelawrence.org/lawrencegasresponsebusiness.

Attorney General Hotline

Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has established a hotline for those with questions and concerns. Residents and business owners may contact the Attorney General’s new hotline at 617-573-5370 in order to connect with specialists in the office who are able to handle questions about legal representation, home improvement scams, and insurance claims from homeowners, renters, and local businesses.

Showers for Residents

The hot showers still available at Pomp’s Pond (147 Abbot St.) will remain open through at least Monday, Oct. 1.

Hours are Monday-Friday noon to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents need to bring their own shower supplies including towels, shampoo, conditioner, and soap. There will be a limited number of showers designated for family use.

There is also an accessible shower for those with mobility impairments located at the Andover Senior Center (30 Whittier Court). Those are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays for as long as they are needed. Anyone who needs accessible shower must call the Senior Center at 978-623-8320 for an appointment time.

Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are assisting in staffing the trailers.

Hot Plate Safety

Chief Mansfield and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services strongly encourage the safe use of hot plates. Residents are urged to review the following guidelines:

• Only use hot plates and electric skillets on the countertop.
• Keep a 1-foot circle of safety around it; clear of anything that can catch fire.
• Turn off when not in use.
• Be mindful that hot plates stay hotter for longer than gas cooking surfaces.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking; stand by your pan.
• Teach children to keep 3 giant steps from any cooking (the stove, a grill, or a hot plate).
• Have a pot cover nearby to “put a lid” on a fire. Then unplug the hot plate if it is safe to do so.
• Plug hot plates and electric skillets directly into the wall; do not use extension cords or power strips.
• If the device trips the breaker or blows a fuse, stop using it right away and call an electrician or ask the landlord to so.
• Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Chief Mansfield emphasizes that hot plates should be treated like any kitchen appliance. Do not use power strips or extension cords — always plug them directly into the wall.

Claims Update

The Andover claims center will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Old Town Hall. It will open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday next week, and again from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.

The Essex County Community Foundation — Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund will have representatives present at the claims center each day from Wednesday through Saturday next week.

After meeting with Town Manager Flanagan, Governor Baker’s office and other municipal officials, Columbia Gas agreed to compensate all of its customers for all losses related to the Merrimack Valley gas emergency.

This includes:

• Bodily injury
• Damage to property
• Disruption of businesses
• Inconvenience and disruption of everyday activities caused by loss of use of gas service
• Efforts to limit or mitigate the loss, such as switching from gas hot water heaters to electric or temporary solutions to heat, hot water and cooking

For more extensive information on the process for switching systems, please click here.

Residents are advised to call the 24-hour claims hotline at 800-590-5571 to initiate the process.

Click here to download Columbia’s outline of the claims process.

Propane

Chief Mansfield has heard from a number of residents seeking to use Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG), commonly referred to as propane, as a temporary substitute for natural gas.

Andover Fire Rescue prohibits the use of propane for household purposes where piped natural gas is available from a public utility. However, propane will be permitted when natural gas is unavailable.

A permit is required, and there are specific safety regulations that must be followed by contractors and homeowners.

Click here for information on permits and a checklist for propane installations. 

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