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No gas, no heat, no answers for tenants
After 3 weeks, complex still without gas service
Updated: Tuesday, 11 Dec 2012, 6:13 PM CST
Published : Tuesday, 11 Dec 2012, 6:11 PM CST
AUSTIN(KXAN) -
As the temperatures take a drop, dozens of North Austin families are losing their patience. That's because a gas main break at the Austin Commons Apartments has left dozens of families in the cold.
Eleven out of 21 apartment buildings are still without natural gas and while the apartment complex is working to get things fixed; for some residents it's not fast enough.
Chase Emerson, who has lived at the complex for six months, says the problem started nearly three weeks ago.
"I tried to take a shower and there was no hot water so I waited a little bit just to see," said Emerson. "But there was still no hot water."
A gas main break at his apartment complex now forces him to take hot showers out of a mobile van, and he doesn't have a working stove. Also, no gas means no heat at night.
- If you need help
The city says if you smell any leaking gas or suspect a problem like this; you can give them a call at 311 and they'll get an inspector to come check things out.
"Yea, last night was just freezing I just didn't know what to do I was putting on layer after layer but it was still cold," said Emerson.
The apartment management team says they're working over time to fix the problem. They've also provided space heaters for tenants as well as mobile showers. But they say it could be at least another week before all the apartments are back to normal.
"I don't get it," said Emerson. "Why can't they hurry this up."
The apartment complex refused to do an interview, so we asked the Austin Code Compliance Office why the process is taking so long.
"I don't know if this is something we can rush," said Melissa Martinez, a division manager with the department.
"The Texas Gas Service is involved, the permitting group is involved, and then they have to do a series of testing I believe from the main line into the individual units."
Which means it could be even longer before Emerson's life is back to normal. The problem has left him just wishing for heat this holiday season.
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