Emergency personnel respond to Tuesday gas line break
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Atmos Energy employees work with Natchez Fire Department firefighters to find the gas line that runs into another line that was ruptured in front of Merit Health Natchez. The rupture occurred while Southern Signs was installing the hospital’s new sign. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)
NATCHEZ — An ill-placed boring broke a gas line at Merit Health Natchez mid-morning Tuesday, leading to a response from police, fire and gas company officials that included the closure of a turning lane on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.
Natchez Fire Department Battalion Chief C.R. Gibson said the hospital — formerly Natchez Regional Medical Center — was putting up signage when the gas line break happened.
The gas line break occurred when crews were installing a sign on the grassy area between the hospital’s front parking lot and U.S. 61. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)
“They had all the lines marked, and they accidentally hit a gas line while they were drilling a hole to put a new sign up,” Gibson said.
Merit Health Natchez Chief Executive Officer Eric Robinson said the leak did not result in a need for evacuation and care of then-current patients continued without interruption.
While repairs were being completed, the hospital diverted ambulances and emergency surgeries to the Merit Health Natchez — Community Campus on Jefferson Davis Boulevard.
One planned surgery for Tuesday was postponed because of the incident, Robinson said.
Atmos Energy Spokesman Robert Lesley said the broken line was repaired by 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
While Atmos still had to purge air from the line, Lesley said gas service was restored to the hospital.
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