A Family Close To The REX Pipeline Rupture Speaks Out

A family that lives close to where the Rockies Express Pipeline ruptured on November 14th is speaking out about how they feel the incident was handled.

"We weren’t told what to expect or even on that day that it was even going to be turned on, that there was gas in the line or if there was a situation what we were to do or where to go," tells Kendra Plants who lives 250 yards from where the pipeline ruptured.

Kendra Plants says on the day of the pipeline rupture she was in her home with her family when they heard an explosion. In a home video shot by Kendra’s husband you can see the gas pouring out of the pipeline.  Kendra says the rupture sounded like a jet engine and shook her house for nearly 30 minutes. She immediately called 911, but was at a loss for what to do.

"We don’t have the experience, we don’t know what we are supposed to do or what to recognize if there would be any type of problem," tells Kendra.

Kendra and her family were evacuated by the Harrison Township Fire Department around 45 minutes after the rupture, but she feels the Rockies Express Pipeline company should have better prepared residents for what to do in an emergency.

"Who do we contact or where do we go, you know, what if something like this or worse were to happen during the night if everyone was asleep, you know, how do we know," says Kendra.

Kendra and many of the residents living around the pipeline say they want an immediate type of notification system if there is an emergency. Many residents have mentioned a siren. In an interview earlier this week with Bo Keck, Director of the Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency, says a siren is not a reasonable option. But the county has other types of notification.

"We have worked again with them(Rockies Express Pipeline), we have an advanced notification system within the county that we can get on and notify people by telephone, which we did use that day," said Keck.

But Kendra says her family never got a phone call.

"The big problem is the time element of getting people notified, finding where the leak or the rupture is and getting the people notified around that area and unless you put sirens all around the pipeline a siren would not be a good thing to do," tells Keck.

Kendra says until there is a warning system in place she won’t feel completely safe in her home.

"If your not close to it, you know, your not going to know immediately if your in danger," says Kendra.

Katie Jeffries

KJeffries@whizmediagroup.com