FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018
Media contact: John Guilfoil
Email: john@jgpr.net
Phone: 617-993-0003
Town of Andover Provides Update on Gas Emergency Recovery Process
ANDOVER –The Town of Andover wishes to provide residents and business owners with several key updates regarding the town’s ongoing recovery and restoration efforts following last month’s Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency.
Columbia Gas has acknowledged technical issues with its automated call systems intended to alert customers about assessment appointments. The issues were related to software systems. Columbia Gas has reported that those issues have been identified and mitigated. The town is actively working with Columbia Gas to ensure that their call systems are reliable and accurate. Residents who have received calls may receive another call about an assessment.
In order for gas service to be restored, homes must be both house ready, with assessments done and in-home repairs complete, and gas ready, with main gas lines and home service lines replaced, and new meters installed.
A total of 47 construction crews are working in Andover today, with 47 planned tomorrow and 57 crews scheduled for Friday and Saturday each day.
Columbia Gas has released its “Gas Ready Construction Plan” detailing plans and offering schedules for the restoration of service to thousands of affected gas customers in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.
Click here to download the entire report as a PDF file.
A total of 2,038 gas meters are in the affected zone in Andover. Columbia Gas reports that 47 construction crews are working in Andover today.
Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test
The Town of Andover reminds all residents that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018.
The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) portion of the test will be sent to virtually all consumer cellular phones in the U.S. beginning at 2:18 p.m. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) test will follow on all television and radio stations at 2:20 p.m. This is the first time the federal government has tested the WEA.
Relief Fund
In response to the overwhelming needs facing those impacted by the Sept. 13 over-pressurization of the low pressure gas pipeline in 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 affected by the 7,500 Columbia Gas meters on the low-pressure lines in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover who have been without gas since Sept. 13.
- Online at www.GLDRF.org (link will be live October 3, this is the fastest and easiest way to apply)
- 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.
Old Town Hall – 20 Main Street, Andover
Wednesday, Oct. 3 – Noon – 8:00pm
Thursday, Oct. 4 – Noon – 8:00pm
Friday, Oct. 5 – Noon – 8:00pm
Saturday, Oct. 6 – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 7 – Closed
Monday, Oct. 8 – Closed
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.
Resources from the Fund will support the short and long-term shelter and sustenance needs of the more than 10,000 household units and businesses affected by the 7,500 Columbia Gas meters on the low-pressure lines in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Thousands of residents and businesses in these communities have been without gas since Sept. 13, when gas fires and explosions from over-pressurized gas lines destroyed homes and neighborhoods.
Resources from the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund will support household units and businesses affected by the 7,500 Columbia Gas meters on the low-pressure lines in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover who have been without gas since Sept. 13. Only those who have no gas, and will continue to be without service during the restoration process are eligible for assistance through the GLDRF.
If you are one of the 7,500 metered household units or businesses affected, you are invited to apply for funding by completing the form below for financial support from the Fund.
Only one application per household unit will be awarded the stipend check. The head of the household should apply. The head of household is considered the person whose name appears on the deed, mortgage, lease/rental receipts, or utility and other household bills.
Only one application per business address will be awarded the stipend check.
The Fund will provide a $550 stipend check per household unit or business to those who are eligible.
Volunteers are needed to support this application process and the Drop-In locations. To find out more about volunteer roles needed:
- Andover, North Andover or South Lawrence sites: visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/GLDRFVolunteer
For more information about the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund and the process to apply for financial resources, please visit www.eccf.org/GLDisasterReliefFund.
Assessment Process
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 2,100 assessments have been completed across the three communities, representing about one-third of the assessment work needed in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence to date.
The following streets are scheduled for assessments today:
- Baker Lane
- Beech Circle
- Cassimere Street
- Cuba Street
- Essex Street
- Moraine Street
- Railroad Street
- Red Spring Road
- Ridge Street
- School Street
- Shawsheen Road
- Smithshire Estate
- Stevens Street
For the most up to date information from Columbia Gas on the streets where assessment teams will be deployed, click here.
The assessment will include the following steps:
- First, the assessors will evaluate and inventory gas-fueled appliances. Specifically, representatives will 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.
- Second, Columbia Gas will pressure test in-home gas piping to see if it is damaged.
- 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
Andover is deploying town resources each day to support the assessment effort and assist residents.
Construction Schedule
Columbia Gas has provided the Town of Andover with a construction schedule that outlines when gas line repair work will occur, with the goal of making streets and homes “gas ready.”
Columbia Gas has replaced approximately 7 of the 49 miles of pipe scheduled to be replaced.
The preliminary maps below indicate the timeline for when work will begin to make streets gas ready. These maps are subject to change.
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.
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.
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 they’re made available.
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