Representative Lauren Carson provided the following update on the ongoing gas crisis to her constituents via an email blast on Friday morning.
Good Morning – Friday January 25, 2019
By now, many of us have finally connected to the important information that we need into order to survive this utility crisis that has plagued our City.
The most important information is that almost all National Grid customers have been disconnected from the natural gas system. After the system rests for about 12 hours, Grid can begin the next challenge of reconnecting customers to the gas system. It is my expectation that this process will take about 3 days, possibly longer.
Reconnecting your home or business to the system will take about 45 minutes. If you are not home when Grid arrives, they will leave a door knocker with information about how to get your system reconnected.
In the meantime, many services are available to you, your family and your business. Continue to use the Customer Service Center at Gurneys on Goat Island as your primary source of information when you need answers from a real person fast.
A few quick resources and ideas:
* If you are out of work, you may make an unemployment claim
* RIPTA buses are free in and around Newport
* Free meals are available in and around the city. Click here for some resources
* If you have experienced damage to your property, please save any
and all receipts of any repairs you have been forced to make due to this crisis. Document with photos if possible. More information on that will follow.
* The best on-line resources for the latest news and community resources available are the City of Newport Facebook page, the on-line blog, What’s Up Newport, Newport Now and follow my facebook page.
* I have been focused on problem solving with constituents, Grid, the City and the Governor’s office. Please call me if you have an immediate problem and need answers now. 401-523-1143.
Above all, rest assured that I want answers. I am working with both Senator Euer and other RI House members to begin a process for an investigation into this crisis. I want answers just as much as you do.
I assure you that any investigation into what caused this and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the emergency response will be a pubic process. You will get an opportunity to tell me how this affected you and your family.
Representative Lauren Carson