Due to the ongoing gas emergency on Aquidneck Island, many residents are looking at several days without heat. For those looking for a place to stay over the next few days, there are two ways that National Grid can help.
Hotel Voucher
Residents can obtain a hotel voucher in one of the following ways;
1 . Gaudet Middle School
“Folks who come to Gaudet School (Turner Road entrance) for warming and/or sheltering can expect to find a National Grid representative available to provide hotel vouchers and additional information. If you choose to stay at the Gaudet Shelter, please be sure to bring a pillow and blanket (the shelter provides a cot and a blanket). We also encourage you to bring something to pass the time while you are with us – books, games, and tables are welcome,” the city of Middletown posted on their website..
2. Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina
“Customers affected by the gas service interruption are encouraged to visit our information center to obtain the most up-to-date information on the restoration efforts and resources being offered by National Grid, the State of Rhode Island, and the Red Cross,” National Grid writes on their website.
Note – Gurney’s will send you to Gaudet to pick up the voucher.
Also, Newport residents are urged to sign up for the City’s Code Red alert system via the City’s website at CityofNewport.com. For immediate assistance, residents are asked to dial the State’s 2-1-1 system.
Hotel Reimbursement
If you want to skip the voucher and get reimbursed later. National Grid will reimburse customers who need to seek lodging. Keep your receipts and contact their claims department at 781-907-3930 to be reimbursed. There is no cap on the reimbursement. Reimbursement Form
National Grid will cover the following costs on a reimbursement basis, as long as they are directly related to the gas event at hand:
- Reasonable lodging accommodation while gas service is unavailable
- Reasonable meals while gas service is unavailable
- Up to $250 per household for temporary heaters (i.e. space heaters, etc.)
Customers should keep receipts, fill out our form, and email our claims department to be reimbursed.
National Grid has made the Rhode Island Hotel List available.
National Grid has provided the following answers to some questions you may have regarding this situation:
Below are the answers to some questions you may have regarding this situation:
When should I expect my gas service to be restored?
National Grid does not know the length of the interruption at this time but it is likely to be a multi-day restoration effort. At this point in time, we hope to start the gas re-light process Tuesday, which will continue through later this week, when we anticipate that the last customers will be restored.
Where can I go to stay warm?
Recognizing the extreme cold temperatures we are working with state and local leaders to ensure there are warming centers in the area. Several warming center have been opened:
Gaudet Middle School
URI Memorial Student Union
Donovan Manor
We will also reimburse the cost of rooms for customers who seek hotel or motel lodging.
What hotels are available in the local area?
Here is a list of Rhode Island hotels for customers desiring hotel or motel lodging. We will reimburse the cost of the room for your stay, regardless of price. Customers should keep receipts, fill out our form, and email our claims department to be reimbursed.
Customers that are having difficulty in securing lodging are encouraged to speak with one of our community liaisons at Gurney’s Newport Resort or any of the open warming centers.
What will be reimbursed?
National Grid will cover the following costs on a reimbursement basis, as long as they are directly related to the gas event at hand:
- Reasonable lodging accommodation while gas service is unavailable
- Reasonable meals while gas service is unavailable
- Up to $250 per household for temporary heaters (i.e. space heaters, etc.)
Customers should keep receipts, fill out our form, and email our claims department to be reimbursed.
What is the process to restore gas service?
Restoring gas service to those who have lost service will be a multiple day process. This is a methodical process that will take some time.
- Shut Off Gas Service: For those that had their gas service suspended, we will need to go to their homes and ensure the meter is turned off. If necessary we may need to access properties with a locksmith and law enforcement to shut off an inside meter.
- Restore Gas Service
- Relight Appliances: Once we know the system has fully stabilized, we will need to go back into each of those homes to relight gas appliances. If you are not at home when we arrive to turn on your service, a door hanger will be left with instructions to call 1-800-870-1664 to complete this step.
Should we turn our gas off? Turn our furnace off?
No. You should not attempt to turn off your own gas. Our technicians will be visiting your residence or business to secure the meter.
If I am away on vacation or away for the winter, how can I tell if my home is impacted?
Customers that have a freeze alarm installed will learn from the alarm that their home is impacted. Otherwise, customers that are away will need to rely on a designated person (family member/neighbor) to physically check the house.
Has my meter been shut off?
Customers or delegated persons will need to be physically present to see if meter has been shut off; if necessary we may need to access the property with a locksmith and law enforcement to shut off an inside meter.
Will you call me when you’re going to come out and restore my gas?
No, we will not call ahead, we will be going door-to-door during the gas restoration effort.
Do I need to be home in order for my gas to be restored?
Yes. Restoring gas is a multi-step process and we do need access to your property twice. First, for those that had their gas service suspended, we will need to go to their homes and ensure the meter is turned off. If necessary we may need to access properties with a locksmith and law enforcement to shut off an inside meter.
Once we’ve shut off service and then restored it, we will need access to your property once more to relight gas appliances. If you are not at home when we arrive to turn on your service, a door hanger will be left with instructions to call 1-800-870-1664 to complete this step.
What should I do if I smell natural gas?
As always, if you smell gas in the house or suspect a leak in your home, you should call us or 911. As every report of a gas leak is a potentially hazardous situation, we recommend you evacuate the premises and wait for authorities to arrive. Keep this in mind if you suspect a leak:• Leave the premise immediately.• Leave windows and doors as they are.• Do not touch any electrical or light switches, doorbells, phones or anything that could cause a spark such as any appliances or thermostats.• Do not turn any electrical equipment on or off.• Do not pull plugs from outlets.• Extinguish any open flames such as lit candles.• If you have a gas range or oven make sure the controls are turned off.• Do not smoke or light matches.
Where do plumbers or electricians go to sign up to work on the restoration?
We are looking for plumbers and electricians to be able to commit resources to National Grid in the event that we need their services.
- We will need plumbers for draining down houses with forced hot water heat and domestic hot water heaters so that they don’t freeze.
- We will need plumbers to dedicate their resources for at least three days including today.
- Space heaters that are going to be made available from National Grid may or may not be suitable due to customers circuit panels and may or may not be able to support the units. Electricians will need to double check these on a case by case basis.
Interested electricians and plumbers should email Frank Duggan directly with the following information:
- Company Name
- Contact Name
- Phone
- Availability to respond. (Number of people and timeframe)