Northwest Indiana Gas Leak Evacuates 200 People
UPDATED: 1/27/2011 11:13 a.m.
EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (CBS/WBBM) -- A gas leak chased 200 people from their homes in Northwest Indiana overnight.
A two-block-by three-block area just west of Indianapolis Boulevard and near Chicago Avenue in East Chicago, Ind., was affected.
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East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland said NIPSCO decided to shut down the gas main instead of trying to reroute the gas to other lines.
"It's good because now they're in total control," Copeland said. "By isolating the source that can ignite, when the vapors dissipate, then we're looking at the levels of the hazard coming down, so I feel better about that."
Copeland said there was an "overwhelming" volume of 911 calls about the smell.
By 9:30 a.m., the residents were told they could go home, and they wasted no time in doing so.
As CBS 2's Susanna Song reports, Jovita Peppers started up her car with her two puppies in the back seat and the heat blasting.
"No sleep," Peppers said, "it has been a very big inconvenience."
At 11 p.m., Peppers was among the East Chicago residents forced out of their homes.
"They were knocking on doors, knocking on windows, yelling to get everyone's attention so they could get out because of the major leak," Peppers said.
Police and fire crews responded to a major natural gas leak. The cause remains under investigation.
"We're not sure what caused it," said East Chicago emergency management and communications director Herbie Cruz. "There was a rupture underground, which caused us to evacuate approximately six square blocks."
Dozens of people spent the night on cots at Heritage Hall, a community center at 4506 Tod Ave. about a block away. The Salvation Army provided food and drinks.
"We got food. It was OK, food and sleep," said evacuee Renee Pryor. "Now we want it but good."
More than 10 hours later, the gas company truck took off.
At Heritage Hall, Cruz said: "There was a loud cheer in the gymnasium when we announced that. Obviously, people are anxious to go back into their homes, but they were very patient, very courteous, very kind."
Just as the evacuees arrived on a bus, they took off on another one, happy to turn home.
As of 11 a.m., about 20 homes remained without gas as the company makes more repairs, but they should be restored sometime in the afternoon. The leak was under investigation, and no injuries were reported.
