OAK HARBOR, Ohio (WTVG) – A weekend with no heat was the reality for more than 1,000 homes and businesses in Oak Harbor after a gas leak that started last Thursday led all gas lines in the village to be shut off for repairs.
On April 7, some residents began to slowly get their gas service restored.
“It was a high pressure gas leak, natural gas, that’s just south of Oak Harbor,” said Fred Petersen, director of the Ottawa County Emergency Management Agency. “It’s a high pressure supply line that supplies the entire village of Oak Harbor.”
Columbia Gas spent the weekend making repairs and going to each home and business to relight the gas fuse.
“I heard the gas leak,” said Bryan Atwater, an Oak harbor Resident. “It sounded like a jet going off.”
With chilly temps all weekend residents told 13 Action News they did what they could to stay warm.
“I had like three or four layers on and I would stay in bed with my cats,” said Kyle Hollis, and Oak Harbor resident. “I’d get up to go to the bathroom or to get something to eat and I’d go right back to bed.”
Hollis moved to Oak Harbor more than 20 years ago from Florida.
“I was in several hurricanes where we lost power and stuff. It’s just, the hurricanes would hit, you know, and somebody in the area would still have power,” said Hollis. “And there was one hurricane I was in where it went through and did nothing. This was worse because I couldn’t go anywhere.”
Another resident, Larry Camp, said though it was uncomfortable, he was ready to tough it out.
“As my house cooled down, I just got a couple electric heaters, put them by my easy chair and just hung out there,” said Camp. “Just a minor inconvenience. Could’ve been worse.”
In all, more than 1,700 homes and businesses had the gas shut off because of this. 13 Action News checked in with Columbia Gas and as of 2 p.m. on April 7, only 150 customers still needed their gas restored.
Crews plan to continue working throughout the night and on April 8 to get the rest.
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