FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Oct. 8, 2018
Media contact: John Guilfoil
Email: john@jgpr.net
Phone: 617-993-0003
Town of Andover Provides Latest Updates on Gas Emergency Recovery Process
ANDOVER –The Town of Andover continuously seeks to provide residents and business owners with key updates regarding the ongoing recovery and restoration efforts following last month’s Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency.
An interactive map of the assessment and appliance installation process will be formally launched Tuesday by Columbia Gas. The map will give residents and business owners a real-time look at the local recovery process and help the gauge when crews will be on their streets to conduct assessments.
Also starting Tuesday, Columbia Gas reports that replacement appliances will be installed immediately during the assessments. Columbia Gas has received or ordered hundreds of water heaters, boilers, HVAC units, ranges and clothes dryers, which it will be installing free of charge.
Columbia Gas reports that 18 of the nearly 50 miles of affected pipe have been replaced as of Sunday. A total of 917 service lines in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence have been replaced. Columbia Gas reports a total of 8,447 total gas customers are affected in the three communities.
In Andover, 1,964 residential dwellings and 283 businesses remain without gas service as of Monday, according to Columbia Gas.
Columbia Gas also provides a daily briefing that summarizes the restoration process. Click here to read today’s briefing.
“We are eagerly anticipating the release of the Columbia Gas interactive map that will tell residents and business owners, step-by-step, what work is being done and where it is happening,” Town Manager Flanagan said. “We will continue to hold Columbia Gas accountable to the residents and businesses of Andover.”
Streets that assessment crews previously visited are being re-visited Monday in order to reach those whose homes and businesses have yet to be assessed.
All gas customers will need an assessment of their homes, including gas lines and appliances. Crews wearing identification continue to fan out across neighborhoods. More than 3,100 assessments have been completed across the three communities.
Click here to download a complete FAQ from Columbia Gas.
Andover is deploying town resources each day to support the assessment effort and assist residents.
Supporting Andover Businesses
The following Andover businesses are open in the area affected by the Gas Emergency:
| Acorn Design Center | 10 Essex Street | ||
| Advanced Health & Wellness | 76 Main Street | ||
| Andolini’s | 19 Essex Street | Limited Menu | |
| Andover Barber Shop | 17 Main Street | ||
| Andover Bookstore | 74 Main Street | ||
| Andover Classic Wines | 209 North Main Street | ||
| Andover Gallery | 68 Park Street | ||
| Andover Inn | 4 Chapel Avenue | ||
| Andover Optical | 42 Main Street | ||
| Andover School of Ballet | 14 Park Street | ||
| Andover Shop | 127 Main Street | ||
| Andover Spa | 9 Elm Street | ||
| Andover Thrift Shop | 10 Park Street | ||
| Andrea’s Skin Care | 78 Main Street | ||
| Ann’s Cleaners | 2 Railroad Street | ||
| Beauty Solutions | 36 Main Street | ||
| Bertucci’s | 90 Main Street | Limited Menu | |
| Best You | 10 Main Street | ||
| Bobbles and Lace | 2 Main Street | ||
| Cache Hair Salon | 20 Post Office Avenue | ||
| Caffe Nero | 77 Main Street | ||
| Campus Collection | 40 Main Street | ||
| Chic Consignment | 44 Main Street | ||
| Christian Science Reading Room | 36 Main Street | ||
| Clear and Now Holistic Healing Center | 52 Main Street | ||
| Coco Collection | 8 Main Street | ||
| Cristina’s Bridal | 1 Main Street | ||
| CVS | 68 Main Street | ||
| D’Agostino’s Deli | 93 Main Street | ||
| David’s Shoe Repair | 7 Bartlet Street | ||
| Depot Pizza | 53 Essex Street | ||
| Dominos Pizza | 63 Park Street | ||
| Dove Tail Beauty Connections | 44 Main Street | ||
| Driscoll’s Package Store | 5 Bartlet Street | ||
| Dunkin Donuts | 349 North Main Street | ||
| Dunkin Donuts | 93 Main Street | ||
| Elements Andover | 209 North Main Street | ||
| Elizaberth Grady | 89 R Main Street | ||
| Enzo | 91 Main Street | ||
| Eva Nails | 28 Chestnut Street | ||
| Grassfields Restaurant | 207 North Main Street | ||
| Helen Thomas | 90 Main Street | ||
| Home Yoga | 28 Chestnut Street | ||
| Irresistibles | 15 Barnard Street | ||
| J. McLaughlin | 13 Main Street | ||
| Karma | 209 North Main Street | ||
| Kiki Skin & Body Spa | 38 Florence Street | ||
| Kings Subs | 11 Bartlet Street | ||
| Kokee Flowers | 16 Main Street | ||
| La Mia Moda | 1 Main Street | ||
| Lanam Club | 260 North Main Street | Limited Menu | |
| LaRosa’s | 7 Barnard Street | Limited Menu | |
| Les Fleurs | 27 Barnard Street | ||
| Letourneau’s Pharmacy | 349 North Main Street | ||
| Mak and Co. | 18 Red Spring Road | ||
| Marissa Michaels Hair Salon | 38 Florence Street | ||
| Max and Riley | 2 Elm Square | ||
| Minuteman Press | 79 North Main Street | ||
| Mootone | 15 Railroad Street | ||
| Mr. Gelato Café | 89 Main Street | ||
| Mr. Take Out | 54 Haverhill Street | ||
| Nazarian Jewelers | 2 Elm Square | ||
| New England Gallery | 350 North Main Street | ||
| Oak & Iron Brewing Co. | 18 Red Spring Road | ||
| P Nalbandian Oriental Rugs | 77 Main Street | ||
| Park Street Pub | 40 Park Street | ||
| Peking Garden | 36 Park Street | ||
| Perfecto’s Caffe | 79 North Main Street | ||
| Philip Ciampa Salon | 22 Park Street | ||
| Prim Salon Andover | 90 Main Street | ||
| Quiet Pleasures Jewlery | 24 Chestnut Street | ||
| Raagini Indian Bistro | 209 North Main Street | ||
| Raini Nails | 3 Elm Street | ||
| Red Stone Liquors | 89 Main Street | ||
| Revitalive | 93 Main Street | ||
| Richadale | 10 Railroad Street | ||
| Robert Jason Salon | 92 Main Street | ||
| Royal Jewelers | 58 Main Street | ||
| Salon 7 Elm | 7 Elm Street | ||
| Salon Invi | 28 Chestnut Street | ||
| Salon Navid | 8 Main Street | ||
| Savoir Faire Home | 23 Barnard Street | ||
| Shaban’s of Andover | 9 Main Street | ||
| Shawsheen Luncheonette | 3 Lowell Street | ||
| Shenada Salon & Spa | 125 Main Street | ||
| Sole Amour | 4 Main Street | ||
| Starbucks | 14 Main Street | ||
| Stop & Shop | 209 North Main Street | ||
| Sweet Mimi’s | 94 Main Street | ||
| Teatone | 17 Railroad Street | ||
| The Style Refinery | 77 Main Street | ||
| Todd Rogers | 18 Park Street | ||
| Town Dog | 201 North Main Street | ||
| Tulle Bridal | 342 North Main Street | ||
| Ultimate Perk | 96 Main Street | ||
| UPS | 9 Bartlet Street | ||
| Whole Foods | 40 Railroad Street | ||
| William Roberts Salon | 211 North Main Street | ||
Free Parking Downtown
Due to the construction in the downtown area, the Town of Andover will not be collecting parking fees at municipal parking lots. The Town encourages downtown visitors to park in the municipal parking lots. This includes Lot 1 (between Andover Village Square and Caffé Nero), Lot 2 (behind Old Town Hall) and Lot 3 (Park Street Village). This will be evaluated on a weekly basis.
Alternative Housing
A total of 276 Andover residents from 101 different families have been placed in Alternative housing funded by Columbia Gas as of Sunday, up from 150 on Saturday, the most recent numbers released by Columbia Gas.
The housing program, which includes hotel rooms, apartments, travel trailers, and combination warming centers and shelters, is being coordinated by Columbia Gas with support from local and state agencies and other partners. Impacted customers will be able to stay in alternative housing until service to their homes is restored.
Impacted Columbia Gas customers who choose to be placed in alternative housing should call Columbia Gas’ Claims line: 800-590-5571.
Transportation arrangements will be provided for residents staying in hotels and apartments who do not have their own means of transportation.
Housing needs will continue to be assessed throughout the recovery process and additional options will be coordinated as necessary.
For additional information and slides, see: Greater Lawrence Housing Options
Insurance Forum
The Division of Insurance will host a series of information sessions on Thursday, October 11, 2018 in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.
As recovery efforts continue, the Division is holding these sessions to provide consumers and businesses affected by the fires and gas explosions with information on how to file disaster- related insurance claims. Division officials will also summarize the efforts taken by the Division thus far and answer questions regarding how carriers should be responding to a homeowner or business filing an insurance claim. These sessions will also include input from insurance carriers and others providing assistance at claim centers.
Each information session will conclude with a Question and Answer period. Bilingual language assistance will be available. The session in Andover will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Andover Town Offices Board of Selectmen’s Meeting Room, 36 Bartlet St.
Small Business Loan Program
Governor Charlie Baker, 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 opened Oct. 1, and has 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.
Relief Fund and Claims Center
In response to the overwhelming needs facing those impacted by the Gas Emergency, Andover, North Andover and Lawrence, Governor Charlie Baker, Mayor Dan Rivera, Town Manager Andrew Flanagan and Town Manager Andrew Maylor announced the establishment of the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund to provide assistance with short- and long-term shelter and sustenance needs. The Fund is being supported by donations from Columbia Gas and generous members of the community.
Resources from the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund (GLDRF) will support household units and businesses who have been without gas since Sept. 13.
- Online at www.GLDRF.org
- Over the phone by dialing 2-1-1, for those who cannot apply online
- In person for anyone in need of assistance at Andover’s drop-in center.
Columbia Gas Claims Center and GLDRF Hours Next Week:
Old Town Hall – 20 Main Street, Andover
Tuesday, Oct. 9 – Noon – 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 10 – Noon – 8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11 – Noon – 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 12 – Noon – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
While residents and businesses are encouraged to apply online, they will be notified within 3-5 business days regarding the status of their application regardless of which method they use to apply for assistance.
Showers for Residents
The free showers remain available for residents at Pomps Pond through at least next Friday. The showers will be open Tuesday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 12 from 4-8 p.m.
Andover Elder Services Lunch Program
Andover Elder Services is continuing its lunch program. The lunch is available for those age 60 or older for a suggested donation of $2.50 or for those under age 60 for a cost of $4.50.
Elder Services is also offering the following FREE food programs this month:
- Coffee, Tea and a Daily Snack: Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Soup Nights, Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. (RSVP requested)
Regardless of age, anyone affected by the gas emergency is encouraged to reach out to Andover Elder Services at 978-623-8321 for assistance and free/discounted meals.
Programs take place at the Andover Senior Center, 30 Whittier Court.
Town officials will continue to provide regular updates as new information becomes available.
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