Yesterday, two thousand residents in Shirley and Mastic on Long Island were evacuated at around 1:30 a.m. due to a gas leak. According to Newsday, "A cracked plastic valve on a propane tank was the source of a leak that sent thousands of gallons of toxic, flammable liquefied propane gas." Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said, “It could have been a terrible disaster, a terrible explosion, but fortunately we had seasoned, trained professionals who did their jobs very well and averted a tragedy."
The 30,000 gallon tank was behind a Kohl's shopping center on the Montauk Highway. The leak was repaired by 3 p.m., and residents were finally able to return to their homes around 8:15 p.m.. But being roused from their beds in the wee hours of 2011 was exhausting, saying that they were looking forward to getting some sleep and taking a shower. One said to WABC 7, "I look out the window I see the police, the fire department saying you have to get out! We're evacuating the area! I obeyed the instructions and left right away. The whole area was blocked off." Another said, "When we came out, we could smell the gas." Officials say their homes are safe, but a town board member said the danger was real, "The ignition of a pilot flame, a pilot light could potentially ignite propane if it was a to fill a basement."
While no criminality is suspected, Levy said there will be an investigation. Brookhaven, where the mall is located, will look into whether the tank's owner had the proper permits. The LIRR had even halted service.
