This Article On Experiencing The Southern California Gas Leak By Homeowners Was PUBLISHED On September 25th, 2020
Hello, my name is Billy Stavridis, and I’ve written a blog regarding the SoCal gas leak.
- For those of you in the rest of the country who may not be aware, here’s a little bit of news about what’s been going on here in Southern California
- In late 2015 in the upper affluent middle-class community of “Porter Ranch” the Southern California gas company had decided to start a long-overdue project that was in dire need of repairs and or replacement of some very old pipes that stemmed deep into the ground (approximately 8000 feet deep)
In this article, we will discuss and cover Experiencing The Southern California Gas Leak By Homeowners.
Experiencing The Southern California Gas Leak And Repairing The Damage
The repairs were nothing more than what should have been routine according to the gas company:
- This held true until the unfortunate and tragic day of October 23rd, 2015
This is when the crew of SoCal gas engineers accidentally drilled thru and into an unintended pipeline resulting in the expelling of Benzene / Methane (otherwise known as natural gas) into the atmosphere.
Experiencing The Southern California Gas Leak And Its Outcome
Now, as residents of Porter Ranch we had no immediate knowledge or information of this tragic incident:
- The only indication that something was terribly wrong was a very distinct odor in the air that was detected by many of the local residents
- The odor was very similar at times
- Very infrequent to that of a natural gas leak
- One that you would smell in your home if you had left your stove burner accidentally on
- It wasn’t until a plethora of local residents in the community actually began to develop unusual symptoms like nausea, nose bleeds, vomiting, migraines, etc.
Even pets like dogs, horses had developed similar human-like symptoms that raised awareness that something is terribly wrong in our community.
Experiencing The Southern California Gas Leak And Investigation
The toxic odor was soon after reported to the authorities and an independent investigation began.
- It wasn’t too long after revealed that a natural gas leak emitting into the atmosphere had been confirmed
- The gas company had full knowledge of this from the onset
The gas was now officially exposed to its negligence and upon further investigation, it was reported the leak was even greater than first thought or lead to believe.
Side Effects With Experiencing The Southern California Gas Leak
I can tell you from personal experience the immediate side effects of the leak had impacted every individual differently but nevertheless had an impact on everyone in some way shape or form.
- It affected my Fiancé in multiple ways from severe migraines to nausea, to respiratory difficulties
- She even had an MRI performed to see if there were any internal ailments that could have been causing the symptoms
- Fortunately, the MRI was negative and her physician concluded that her symptoms could very well be subsequently resulting from the toxic leak
One of many unknowns is the long term effect this could have on everyone’s health.
Experiencing The Southern California Gas Leak And Relocation Of Residents
In early November the gas company was ordered by the City of Los Angeles to offer a voluntary relocation program for any and all residents within a 7-mile radius of the leak:
- They were ordered to incur all housing costs, food, additional mileage, etc… approximately eight thousand families had to be relocated
- That’s was no easy task
- Hotels, apartment buildings even rental homes were being flooded with people looking to find a place where they could safely and temporarily call home
Needless to say, local accommodations became more and more difficult and people had to move further and further away some as far as (40 miles away) just to find a hotel.
How Lives Are Affected
To give you a better idea of the magnitude, two rather large schools in the community also had to be temporarily closed:
- Students had to be bussed to other neighboring schools miles away
- To add insult, the holidays were quickly approaching (thanksgiving) and (Christmas / New years)
- With holidays around the corner, any plans of celebrating the holidays, decorating the tree with the kids, having family and friends visit were quickly and completely dispelled and disrupted
After attending several town hall meetings and receiving more information about the leak it was clearly evident this wasn’t going to be resolved anytime soon.
- The SoCal gas company had determined the leak was so large and so deep that repairing the leak was not a viable option thus having to cap the pipeline permanently was the only option
- We were also informed that there are approximately 115 active tanks in the “Aliso Canyon Hills” area
- All of which were built in the early 1950s and are not considered to be up to the current safety code standards
- In late January the Governor of California officially declared the leak a “State of Emergency”
- We are still currently living away from our homes and have not been cleared to return
- Once the leak is fully under control and sealed an independent or third-party survey will be performed to test air samples quality and determine if it is safe to return to our homes
- That’s it, for now, folks; I will follow up with an updated blog with new info as it develops
Sincerely
Billy Stavridis
About The Author: Billy Stavridis
Billy Stavridis is a contributing writer for Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage And Real Estate Information Center. He is an expert and veteran real estate investor and commercial lending consultant for Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage News. We at Gustan Cho Associates are grateful for Billy Stavridis to come on board as our staff writer and share his expertise in real estate, investing, and financing. Looking forward to his many more articles he will be publishing in weeks and months to come. Stay Tuned!!!
