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November
2002 - As most everyone was enjoying the long
Thanksgiving Holidays and temperatures dipped below freezing in
the Golden Isles a major gas seal coupling broke on an eight
inch main releasing pressure, which many considered an
explosion. By
definition, it was not an explosion.
As Deputy Chief J. H. Tyre with the Brunswick Fire
Department and three engine companies arrived, they could not
believe their eyes. The
8-inch high-pressure gain main blew up at U.S. 17 at Putnam
Street. A huge 4-inch concrete slab had been thrown over traffic
and came to rest across a paved road.
Sand peppered a park car much like sandblasting would.
The resulting leak shut down over 3,500 Atlanta Gas Light
customers in Brunswick, St. Simons Island and Sea Island. It was
the Friday after Thanksgiving day at 8:00 p.m. Temperatures were
dropping quickly as holiday travelers were returning home.
The
Brunswick Fire Department and the Brunswick Police Department
curtained off traffic in an area approximately 2 square miles.
There was great fear that any heat source in that area
could ignite the LP gas which was rapidly escaping from the
eight-inch main. Brunswick
Fire Chief, Lee Stewart praised his men for preventing any
ignition from occurring.
As
the alarms sounded, Glynn County Fire Chief, Carl Johnson
immediately was notified and left for St. Simons and opened the
Emergency Operations Center at The Demere Annex.
As evening turned into early Saturday morning the
Operations center filled with Glynn County Staff to prepare for
the onslaught of calls from Atlanta Gas Light Customers.
Calls did flood the new 911 dispatch as well as fire
stations located on St. Simons Island.
At the same time Atlanta Gas Light Company workers were
mobilized and dispatched to the gas leak and to St. Simons
Island. Even after
the leak was contained later on Saturday and repaired a major
operation continued.
Before
gas could be restored to the 3,500 customers on St. Simons
Island, Sea Island, and a small part of Brunswick each
customer’s service had to be cut off and then when service had
been restored each customer (business by business, house by
house) had to be cut on individually.
Then service had to be restored on appliances inside the
houses to prevent other problems.
Customers had to be home when this was done.
The American Red Cross opened emergency shelters at the
National Guard Armory in Brunswick for anyone without heat.
As
Saturday advanced into Sunday and then Monday over 112 natural
gas workers were called from around the State.
Many independent contractors were called to assist as
well. Chief Johnson
called in officers and firefighters to assist the gas crews who
were not familiar with the area.
Fire fighters in uniform had a calming effect on
residence that could not recognize the gas company personnel as
employees.
The
response from the public was outstanding.
Many were inconvenienced by not having heat in the cold
winter night. Restaurants,
Hotels, and others had to make do without gas stoves, and hot
baths. The attitude
from the public seemed to be, “it could be so much worst.”
“When fire department and gas light employees arrived
you would have thought that we had saved their life or
something,” said one Fire Department officer.
Everyone acted so warm and friendly.
Many offered food, cokes and other gifts as workmen
arrived.
It
wasn’t until after 5 days after the main burst that things
began to appear normal. Many
people were happy. Atlanta
Gas Light Company, Glynn and Brunswick Fire Departments as well
as everyone at the Glynn County Emergency Service Operations
center felt a strong “thankfulness” that there were no
fatalities and a sigh of relief.
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