Residents Not Warm On Idea Of Weeks Without Gas

ANDOVER, MA -- Tuesday marked the first day that schools in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover were all open for the first time since Thursday night's gas explosions which destroyed or damaged more than 60 homes and left one man dead. Mail service had resumed in all but the hardest-hit neighborhoods of the three towns and most businesses had reopened and restocked their shelves with perishable food items that had to be tossed after power was cut to the three communities over the weekend.

But life was far from normal, as residents were told it may be weeks before gas service is turned on. Crews have been working around the clock to turn on the more than 8,000 meters that were turned off Thursday night and Friday to prevent further explosions.

In Andover, 207 crews had restored gas service to 2,493 of the 3,021 customers in the unaffected area -- the part of town where an over-pressurized gas line did not cause explosion. By late Monday about a quarter of the homes in the unaffected area of North Andover had had service restored.

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But in the affected area, warnings that restoration of service to 2,200 buildings could take weeks sparked fears that home-heating season would come before gas service would return. The affected area roughly covers the area north of Salem Street to the Lawrence city line, and Columbia Gas of Massachusetts may have to repair or replace miles of underground gas transmission lines. Dozens of Andover residents went to Monday night's board of selectmen's meeting, where a Columbia Gas representative was scheduled to be on hand to answer questions. The rep no-showed the meeting.

"It's going to be cold soon," resident Amy Tulip told selectmen. "It seems unlikely that [the affected area] will have heat and hot water in time."

Where To Get Help In Andover

Customers in the unaffected area who still don't have gas service should call call Columbia at 866-388-3239.

At the urging of Andover officials, Columbia Gas agreed to open a resource center at the Old Town Hall at 20 Main Street where residents can file claims to be reimbursed for expenses related to the disaster. The center was scheduled to open from 1-8 pm Tuesday, noon-8 pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 9 am - 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Claims can also be made by phone by calling 800-590-5571.

Columbia Gas has a Website with more information on property claims process.

Customers, regardless of where they live, may have to repair or replace service lines, furnaces, water heaters, and gas appliances. NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas, is arranging to have the work done for free for residents that cannot afford the repairs. The Town of Andover is waiving permit fees for repair work related to the gas explosions.

The Andover Community Services Department is offering free continental breakfast and a hot lunch for all residents every day through Friday, September 21. Residents are asked to call and register at 978-623-8320.

Andover Elder Services also has fresh food and vegetables available free for anyone in need who comes to the Senior Center at 30 Whittier Court. Food will be given out from noon-3 p.m. The food pantry will also be open during normal hours on Thursday, September 20 from 4-5 p.m. at the Senior Center.

The Andover/North Andover YMCA in Andover is open to residents of both communities who want to use the facilities to shower or workout.

Where To Get Help In North Andover

Customers in the unaffected area who still don't have gas service should call call Columbia at 866-388-3239.

Columbia Gas is setting up a Community Claims and Resource Center for North Andover residents and businesses. The Center will be opened Tuesday and is located in the First and Main Plaza at 115 Main Street (the space adjacent to CVS). The center is open Tuesday-Friday from noon to 8 pm, and Saturday from 9 am - 5 pm. There will be a town staff member present to answer non-claim related questions.

Columbia Gas has a Website with more information on property claims process.

Customers, regardless of where they live, may have to repair or replace service lines, furnaces, water heaters, and gas appliances. NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas, is arranging to have the work done for free for residents that cannot afford the repairs. The Town of Andover is waiving permit fees for repair work related to the gas explosions.

The Andover/North Andover YMCA in Andover is open to residents of both communities who want to use the facilities to shower or workout.

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People line up to file claims with Columbia Gas at the Lawrence Public Library on Monday. The utility opened similar centers in Andover and North Andover on Tuesday. Photo by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).