Elyria - 2,100 Elyria customers are temporarily displaced after air was discovered in a gas line during routine maintenance by Columbia Gas Thursday.
Customers in the Eastern Heights Boulevard and Concord Avenue areas are without gas, according to their website. The affected areas are highlighted on the map above.
The City of Elyria has been working with Lorain County Emergency Management and the Red Cross to open an emergency shelter at Eastern Heights Middle School on Garford Avenue for residents who need alternative housing.
Those who need assistance or transportation to the shelter should call (440) 284-0357.
According to Columbia Gas, customers in the impacted area who need alternative housing other than the East Park Recreation Center can email ohlodging@nisource.com or call 1-800-272-5440.
Elyria City Schools has cancelled classes Friday in wake of the shut off.
Columbia Gas says their crews are reviewing and working to restore the system and service will be restored as soon as possible. Crews must first shut off gas to every customer in the affected area, make any necessary repairs and then visit each customer inside their home to perform a safety inspection and relight appliances.
“You know you run the risk of carbon monoxide fire and things like that,” said Bill Loomer with Columbia Gas. “That’s why we worked really hard to shut it off as fast as we could.”
Columbia Gas crews from other locations around the state are arriving in the area to assist with the restoration of service.
If impacted customers are planning to leave their homes, please leave contact information on your door or with a neighbor so that crews can gain access to the home to reestablish service. Columbia Gas employees and contractors carry photo IDs and will be happy to show them on request.
Customers that have special needs or medical concerns should contact Columbia Gas at 1-800-344-4077.
The company reassures that customers are safe and that if anyone smells gas they should get to a safe place and call 911 and Columbia Gas at 1-800-344-4077.
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