JACKSON, Miss. – In the weeks following two devastating home explosions in South Jackson, Chris Way, a 25-year-old volunteer with Mississippi MOVE, took it upon himself to supply and install natural gas leak-detecting devices in the community.
Way, a South Jackson native, felt compelled to help after two homes exploded, causing the death of an 82-year-old woman and injuring her husband. In response, he went out with his mother to purchase and distribute the devices, eventually receiving donations to help cover more ground in the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived in Jackson to investigate the explosions and work with agencies to determine the cause. Their initial report revealed that Atmos Energy had identified gas leaks near the locations of both homes just prior to the explosions, raising questions about the company’s response and repair methods.
While Atmos Energy has been working on accelerated leak repairs and infrastructure replacement programs, concerns remain among South Jackson residents about the safety of their natural gas pipelines. Mississippi MOVE has been diligently educating residents about the need for gas leak detectors and has been supplying the devices on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Despite these efforts, the cost of gas leak detectors poses a challenge for the organization, prompting calls for donations to support their outreach in the community. Atmos Energy, on the other hand, urges residents to rely on their senses of smell, sight, and sound to detect gas leaks, but maintains that methane detectors can provide an additional layer of safety.
As the NTSB continues its investigation, the community remains anxious about the safety of their natural gas infrastructure, with lingering questions about how these tragedies occurred and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
However, amidst the ongoing uncertainties, there emerges a sense of resilience and determination within the community to address these challenges and ensure the safety of South Jackson residents.