Community Chat

[september]

Just got an update about the Andover area.  My friends are close to where one house was affected.  They shut off their gas and left the area.  

[wakefield64]

There was unfortunately a death, an 18 year old who had puled into a driveway of a damaged home to check on someone. He was hit on the driver's side by a brick chimney falling off the roof. The towns are evacuated and there is no power and schools are closed for at least tomorrow. The gas company has not been too forthcoming in providing answers. The Governor will be having a press conference shortly.

[SydneyH]

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@september wrote:

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@SydneyH wrote:

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@sidsmom wrote:

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Just an aside for those whom aren't familiar with the state, those towns are at least 30 miles from the City of Boston.

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Yes, but people who live in these towns usually refer to themselves as being from Boston.  I grew up there....know how that works.  

I have family and friends in Andover....waiting to hear about them.  

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They do?  I don't know anyone from that far out that call themselves a Boston resident, especially to another resident of Massachusetts and I've been living here for over 3 decades.   No biggie though.

[cherry]

It was first reported as Boston. When news breaks it isn't always 100% accurate, but it was close enough ,for people to know something awful had happened. As it develops new information is added to clarify things

[chrystaltree]

The gas explosions were not in Boston; they are up in the Merrimack Valley area which isn't Boston.  It's north of Boston and confined to 3 towns that receive their gas from the same gas company.  But it is an awful, terrifying experience.  That's where our thoughts are today.  They say about 80 fires and explosions, 3 deaths.  Residents were forced to leave and go to shelter,  many had to sleep in the cars last night.  Teams of gas employees and first responders are going house to house to shut off gas meters and inspect.  People don't know when they will be allowed to go back to their homes.  Those who still have homes,  so many don't.

[goldensrbest]

I live in southern Maine, on the local news out of Boston, it is just terrible ,homes all over 3 towns,either caught fire ,or just blew up, something was really wrong with the gas lines in some way.

[goldensrbest]

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@cherry wrote:

It was first reported as Boston. When news breaks it isn't always 100% accurate, but it was close enough ,for people to know something awful had happened. As it develops new information is added to clarify things

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@cherry, Yes it is boston area, no harm in you using that term.

[cherry]

@goldensrbest the very first report named Boston as the city, the link has been edited as more information came in

This is common during an event like this...they update as more information pours in...I am glad there hasn't been a terrible amount of deaths. I feel very sorry for the loss of their homes. It is a hardship, but they can rebuild..no way to restore a life that ended, such a shame..The gas company has some 'splaining to do

[goldensrbest]

Yes, tragic human deaths, that young man sitting in his car in driveway,just terrible ,i also wonder about peoples pets being home ,when this happened.

[SydneyH]

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@cherry wrote:

It was first reported as Boston. When news breaks it isn't always 100% accurate, but it was close enough ,for people to know something awful had happened. As it develops new information is added to clarify things

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Well that's what annoys me about the ongoing and inaccurate media coverage, those of us in the region were informed of the exact location of this horrific event, yet others across the country probably still don't understand the significant distance from the City of Boston.  Guess it sells more papers that way.  Meanwhile I'm still fending off texts and calls from my family members because of this significant detail in coverage.