Gov. Schwarzenegger Tours Devastation

After his first tour of the wreckage caused by the Sept. 9 gas pipeline explosion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reassured residents that their questions would be answered.

"After just getting off a plane from South Korea," Schwarzenegger said, "I wanted to stop here to let everyone know that investigating the incident is my number one priority."

He even sought the aid of President Obama, who pledged financial help.

Schwarzenegger praised the quick response of all the volunteers and admired the unity within the community. 

"I trust that he'll find out exactly what happened," said resident Nadia Basalski of Crosby Court. Basalski was in her home when the explosion occurred. "It's the individual people going in to check all the pipelines that you can't be 100 percent sure about."

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board, the California Emergency Management Agency, the city and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. were in attendance to answer residents' questions.

Under a barrage of questions, PG&E officials assured the crowd that "nothing was urgent more than taking care of the current situation."

PG&E is working with the National Transportation Safety Board to conclude what caused the pipeline to explode and will provide an independent evaluation.

"There will be no hiding of info," Schwarzenegger said. "We don't really know now what happened, but we will make sure it won't happen again."

Matthew Bettenhausen, secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency, praised the incredible response and communal effort that ensued after Thursday's disaster.

"The governor declared September Disaster Preparedness Month in California, and we showed just how prepared we were," he said.

Bettenhausen took the opportunity to remind the public that every city was potentially at risk for a disaster, especially in a state like California where wildfires and earthquakes can occur at any time.

"We need to always practice, practice, practice in case emergencies like this happen again," Bettenhausen said.

For now, residents seemed reassured by the governor's appearance.

"I just wanted to see the governor speak!" San Bruno resident Douglas Whitlow said. Whitlow is organizing a "Rally for San Bruno" on Sept. 25 at the San Bruno Recreation Center to raise money for disaster victims.

"We trust you!" yelled another resident from the crowd.

"Right now all we have are speculations about what happened," Schwarzenegger said. "But 'I'll be back,' and we'll get every question answered."