Gas estimated to be out on Charleston's West Side for 7 to 10 days - WCHS

Gas estimated to be out on Charleston's West Side for 7 to 10 days | WCHS

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Mountaineer Gas estimates that full restoration of gas on Charleston's West Side could take 7 to 10 days, according to the company's most recent release.

As of Monday, an estimated 1,100 residents have been without gas for four days. This happened after the company said a West Virginia American Water line burst and leaked go into the gas line on Friday forcing them to cut off services while the water is removed.

On Monday, Mountaineer Gas crews could be spotted all over the West Side digging up the blacktop to get to the gas lines underneath.

Bryson England, who lives on the West Side, said even though he sees the work, it has been frustrating trying to get updates from the companies involved.

“It’s been nonexistent. Period. They know where to to send my bill. They send it to my email. Same way with the gas company. They deduct my bill from my bank," England said. "Why could they not immediately send out a boil advisory to our email accounts? Why couldn’t they tell us the gas was off?”

Once gas is restored, the company said employees will need to enter all affected houses and businesses to turn on natural gas service and re-light appliances. Mountaineer Gas referred to the process as "time-consuming."

"MGC employees who will be coming around door-to-door will be in uniform, have ID and be in a marked Mountaineer Gas vehicle," the release said.

Rodney Snead, who lives with his wife Rosalie on the West Side, said the outage was something they first noticed on Friday.

“We were going to cook and noticed the stove didn’t work, so I was checking it out," Rodney recalled. "We just paid the bill, but I thought they turned it off or something then we heard the news about the rupture."

Rosalie said she tries to call the companies but cannot seem to get through.

“You can’t get them. It’s a recording: 'We’ll get to you as soon as we can,'" she said. "When it’s cold as cold as it’s been, they should move a little bit faster."

On Monday, Charleston Mayor Goodwin sent out a statement that residents were "understandably infuriated" with the lack of information. On a conference call Monday, she said she asked both Mountaineer Gas and American Water for more thorough and accurate communication.

England said the lack of communication falls on both of the companies.

“I blame both of them. We’re the ones stuck in the middle of it. Why? I don’t believe anything they say because they don’t communicate," England said. "The only way I know anything from the gas company is where I called them Friday and asked them questions but that’s it."

According to West Virginia American Water, the water leak was repaired on Saturday in 11 hours and the boil water advisory was lifted on Sunday.

Those in need of food or heating assistance are urged to call the 211 hotline with the United Way between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hot showers are available at the Martin Luther King Jr. and North Charleston Community Centers from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A warming station is available at the WV Black Pride Foundation at 1442 and 1/2 Third Avenue in Charleston.

The two community centers are accepting donations of blankets and non-perishable microwavable food items for those affected by the outage.