TALTY, Texas — UPDATE 12:45 a.m.: Kaufman County emergency management officials say there will be no evacuation for Talty-area residents who were told to standby due to a gas leak overnight. An Atmos technician tells officials the station will be closed until repairs can be made.
TALTY, Texas — UPDATE 12:45 a.m.: Kaufman County emergency management officials say there will be no evacuation for Talty-area residents who were told to standby due to a gas leak overnight. An Atmos technician tells officials the station will be closed until repairs can be made.
ORIGINAL: Residents in Talty are being asked to standby on a possible evacuation after a blow-off valve on a 20-inch natural gas transmission line began releasing gas on Friday night — the third such instance since Thanksgiving morning.
Approximately 250 homes are within the one-mile possible evacuation radius, according to Kaufman County Officer of Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Howie speaking to inForney.com.
The leak has also caused the closure of Farm-to-Market (FM) 148 in the area — in between FM 2932 and approximately County Road (CR) 262.
Just after 10 p.m., the Crandall Fire Department responded to the area of FM 148 and FM 2932 where the Atmos 20-inch transmission line has a blow-off valve. Howie says the valve has been releasing gas and, at this time, approximately 11:15 p.m., has temporarily stopped.
Howie says the approximate 250 homes in the area, including portions of Winners Circle, have been notified by reverse 911 notification to be prepared to evacuate if needed.
A notification on whether or not to evacuate is expected shortly, according to Howie.
The Terrell Volunteer Fire Department and Forney Fire Department have been placed on standby in case of an evacuation.
The gas blow-off valve has released gas on at least three instances since Thanksgiving morning when the blow-off valve released gas for several hours, according to Howie.
This is a developing story.
Notification sent to area residents from Kaufman County OEM:
"Possible Evacuation
If you are receiving this notice you need to prepare for an evacuation. There is an issue with a pipeline which may necessitate a rapid evacuation. We are asking you to be prepared to leave and not use any telephone or automobile which could cause a spark; we will advise you shortly to evacuate or give an all clear. Thank you."
