Businesses and families evacuated more than a month ago by a gas leak in Georgetown are still left wondering when they can return home. That’s even after Atmos Energy held a community meeting in Georgetown Thursday night (April 4th).
Peter Helfrich’s home is across from the Crestview Baptist Church, which was recently allowed to reopen, but his family has been locked out for more than a month. He’s been living with his teething toddler, his wife and their dogs in small motel rooms ever since and like many expelled residents unable to return…is tired.
The Company has been putting up those displaced in hotels and giving out daily 100-dollar stipends, but for families living 6-weeks out of backpacks and briefcases they’d rather be home.
Atmos Energy’s updates let effected residents and businesses know the underground gas levels are still fluctuating in several parts of the Neighborhood just Northwest of Georgetown’s center. The company has sent in more work crews and equipment to siphon the trapped gas out, but still has no timeline or estimate of when people can return.
Jonathan Kendrick lives off Oak lane and hasn’t been home in 6-weeks. On one hand he’s glad, there have been no explosions, meaning, his home is still in one piece. But that’s 6 weeks his had to go without using his garage to fix the family car. 6 weeks without his tools to work on projects. And 6-weeks of living in a motel room with his wife and dogs. He said, “It went from mad, to stressed, to just tired.”
Kendrick said had he been told he’d be out of his home for that long, he might not have left in the firstplace.
(Photo:Shutterstock/Mr Doomits)
