Crews continue to work in response to gas disruption

Columbia Gas has more than 240 personnel working to repair and restore service to affected customers of the current Elyria gas outage, according to a news release from Lorain County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

According to updates from the Lorain County Office of Emergency Management as of 3 p.m. about 130 customers in the blue zone have had service restored. Additional updates at 5 p.m. indicated customers in the blue zone can expect to see crews relighting service throughout the evening. Customers in the yellow zone will be visited by Columbia Gas this evening and overnight. Customers in these zones who are home are asked to leave their porch light on until service is restored.

Pink zone customers will not have service restored until Dec. 1. Columbia Gas is offering lodging services to residents in this zone experiencing a service interruption. Residents can call 1-800-9159161 to make arrangements.

Crews have been purging air from the lines starting from Broad Street and Longson Avenue and moving west, the release said.

People outdoors may smell the odor of natural gas while lines are being purged – this is normal during this process, according to the release.

As sections are purged, crews can restore service in that area.

Crews started restoring service to the first homes around 9 a.m., according to the release.

It is expected that repair and restoration activities will continue around the clock and extended into Dec. 1, the release said.

Columbia Gas is offering lodging to residents experiencing a service interruption.

Affected residents can call 800-272-5440 or email ohlodging@nisource.com to make arrangements.

Additionally, Columbia Gas customers with financial claims directly related to the outage can call 800-915-9161.

If residents do not have alternative options, a shelter is open at Eastern Heights Middle School, 528 Garford Ave. in Elyria. The shelter will go on standby at 11 p.m. if no one is present.

Those who wish to utilize the shelter should enter from Prospect Street.

Transportation to the emergency shelter for those with special needs or those who do not drive will be available by calling 440-2840357.

“We will be here at the shelter for as long as the issue persists,” said Larry Cooper, disaster lead for the American Red Cross. “We have some snacks and stations for people to lie down.

“The situation might resolve itself by tomorrow but you just don’t know.”

Khaled Khatip, disaster lead for the American Red Cross, said more supplies will be given if needed.

“What we have out here is not indicative of what is available,” Khatip said. “We will provide more if people arrive.

“Anyone that comes will have a place to lie down and something to eat.”

Customers without gas service should not attempt to relight appliances themselves.

When it is safe to restore service, a representative from Columbia Gas will perform an inspection in the structure and ensure all appliances are safe to re-light, the release said.