Residents can return to Cayce neighborhood after ‘extremely large’ gas leak, cops say
Residents were evacuated from their homes in a Columbia-area neighborhood following a Thursday morning gas leak, the Cayce Department of Public Safety said.
The leak was “extreme and dangerous,” Sgt. Evan Antley told The State.
Antley said gas was turned off, but the Cayce Masonic Lodge is filled with gas.
The danger that posed prompted the Department of Public Safety to evacuate homes and businesses in a one block radius of the lodge.
That’s in between 11th and 12th streets, and Oakland and Holland avenues, less than a mile from the intersection of Knox Abbot Drive and Blossom Street.
No injuries have been reported, according to Antley.
Employees from Dominion Energy are on the scene, and were the ones who cut off the gas and informed law enforcement about the leak, Antley said.
Information on what caused the leak was not available, but Antley said they are working to find the source, saying it might have been from an appliance or gas line in the building that was damaged.
Shortly after 11:15 a.m., residents were allowed to return to the area, Antley said.
During the evacuation, the Department of Public Safety tried to keep the residents at a safe distance from the leak, and each other, as they followed social distancing mandates.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
DHEC is encouraging people to practice “social distancing” to help stop the spread of the virus. Social distancing is staying away from unnecessary interactions with sick people and from large groups of people; it also calls for remaining at home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
To reduce the spread of coronavirus, events of more than 50 people in a state, county, city, or other publicly-owned facility are prohibited, except for essential government functions, according to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 60 people in South Carolina had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Four have been reported in Charleston County.
Symptoms of coronavirus vary from mild to severe and include coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath, according to the CDC.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 10:18 AM.
