Hundreds In Locust Point Wait For Natural Gas Service To Be Restored

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Slow progress. A gas main break shuts down service for hundreds of people. Now, after three days, patience is wearing thing. 

Adam May has the latest on repair efforts. 

BGE crews test repairs to a 12-inch natural gas main. It broke Monday morning, cutting off service to 1,000 people in Locust Point. 

"Pretty inconvenient, you know what I mean," said one resident. 

And really tough for Brittany Rallo, a nanny with an infant.

"It's a little unfortunate that you can't do everything you would do on a regular day. Cook on the stove top, boil some bottles, gets stuff cleaned and make some pasta," Rallo said. 

The stoves are also three days cold at restaurants like The Himalayan House. 

"We didn't cook anything. We didn't sell anything other than some groceries and cigarettes," said Pearel Regmi, The Himalayan House.

 BGE calls the disruption extremely challenging. When affected residents aren't home, BGE has to break in with a locksmith.

"It is a lot of work to get into every single home twice to turn off the service for safety and then to restore it and introduce the gas safely back into each home," said Rachel Lighty, BGE.

Service has been restored to about 100 customers, including Barracudas Tavern.

"We're definitely glad to be back open," said Kim Lederberger. "It really affected us. It happened Monday morning, and we had no business Monday, and it was really hurtful to the restaurant." 

For the rest still waiting, their wish is simple: "to sleep in my bed and not have to go, brrrr," said one resident.

Some relief is in sight. BGE is planning to start hooking up some individual customers Wednesday. But even that could still take several days to complete.

 Residents are warned to evacuate their homes and call BGE if they smell gas.