By Howard Koplowitz
Con Edison unveiled new procedures for how it will handle gas emergencies following the explosion of a Floral Park home last month and hypothesized on the cause of the fatal blast during a meeting of Community Board 13.
Carol Conslato, the utility’s director of public affairs, told CB 13 Monday night that any high gas readings in a street will now “trigger door−by−door checks and evacuations of buildings.”
Under current procedures Con Ed inspectors first determine where the source of the smell is originating before it begins an evacuation of the home where the leak is found.
Floral Park resident Ghanwatti Boodram was killed after an explosion, apparently caused by a gas leak, ripped through her home at 80−50 260th St., which led to criticism over Con Ed’s handling of the emergency.
Although the investigation into the explosion is ongoing, Conslato said the utility believes an electrical failure damaged a conduit housing an electrical cable that had “pre−existing damage” led to the leak.
She said the damage “may have been caused by prior excavation work.”
David Davidowitz, the utility’s vice president of gas operations, said “there are a number of people” who have done work at the site of the explosion and it is possible Con Ed will never know who caused the damage.
“Somebody damaged that pipe,” he said.
CB 13 Chairman Richard Hellenbrecht said he was concerned that nearby PS 115, where Boodram’s three sons attend school, was not notified of the gas emergency before the explosion. He said the school’s doors blew open during the blast.
Davidowitz said the Fire Department will be called to help with evacuations during gas emergencies from now on. He said if that procedure had been in place, administrators at PS 115 would have known to evacuate because the public address system equipped on engines would have been loud enough for the school to hear.
“Obviously, we didn’t evacuate fast enough,” Davidowitz conceded, referring to Boodram’s death.
“While we’re doing our investigation, [the Fire Department] would be going door−to−door, making sure everything is safe,” he said.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
