Responding to Crisis in the Merrimack Valley
On Thursday, September 13, 2018, our team was informed of the Columbia gas crisis that erupted late afternoon in the Merrimack Valley. Thousands of families in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover were evacuated from their homes and displaced by the incident. Multiple sources indicate that the crisis is linked to a spike in gas pressure. Over 8,000 individuals were evacuated from their homes. Explosions in the areas caused over 70 fires and injured more than a dozen individuals.
Residents were able to return to their homes on the following Sunday, but restoring gas service to the affected homes will take much longer. This means no access to hot water, heat or gas appliances for thousands.
Our Right at Home Team offers our sympathy to our clients, families and employees affected by this tragedy. To help our community, we donated cases of water bottles and goods to the local relief sites in the affected towns, including the Andover Senior Center and Andover Youth Center.
“We are so happy to be assisting the relief effort of the Merrimack Valley Tragedy and we offer our sympathy to those affected. I dropped off bottled water donation for those in need, met Bear a very cool therapy dog who is happy to be pet and hugged. What a great effort of community coming together,” said Celeste Begley, Community Relations Director.
Members of our Right at Home Haverhill office team, Mayelin and Nancy worked on Thursday and Friday making over 200 wellness calls to families, clients and our CareTeam to ensure their safety. “The safety and well-being of our clients, families and staff affected in the Merrimack Valley are of utmost importance to us”, says Mayelin, Scheduling Coordinator in the Haverhill Office.
“My family and I were displaced from the incident and are still without gas," says Victoria Guskiewicz, Community Relations Coordinator. “My parents are Lawrence residents and I am an Andover resident. I am so grateful my family is safe and thankful for all of the first responders who worked around the clock to ensure the safety of the community.”
Want to help those affected in the Merrimack Valley? Here is how: Contact the Red Cross at 1-800-564-1234.