2016 L’Anse Christmas Crisis Keeps Growing: 1,50o Homes/Meters Must Be Shutoff – Expected to Last Three Days – Read Hazardous Weather Outlook – The L’Anse Crash and Natural Gas Inferno Leads to Freezing Homes – evacuations/warming centers
U.P. Breaking News has been warned to expect at least 3 more warming shelters to open this afternoon because the village of L’Anse and gas officials need to make sure that natural gas lines are shutoff into some 1,500 homes and they have to be inspected/confirmed closed. That to prevent another crisis or disaster when the natural gas is eventually turned back on and the warmth is once again flowing.
We have had reports that the folks at the Baraga Area High School have been doing an amazing job. Entire Baraga County (and other counties) have made the best out of this unexpected crisis on Christmas Eve approaches – and help comes in fro many locations to assist in this unexpected event – and the U.P. community pulls together for L’Anse. But the number of L’Anse residents without heat is going to grow big time.
U.P. Breaking News has been told that Copper Country healthcare and mental health officials are working hard to make sure warming centers are open for residents who can not stay in their homes. Makes your own plans if you can, this will not end tonight – and likely won’t end tomorrow night (Christmas Eve). Though we are told that no good time schedule can be built because many facets have to come together. But three days is thought to be the common theory – hopefully not longer.
Reliable sources say repairs and related expenses could cost into the millions to fix the badly damaged natural gas line that will require some extremely costly repairs plus the other costs of the 2016 L’Anse Christmas Crisis.
***Keep the Troops Happy Bulletin from U.P.Breaking News: URGENT TELL THE KIDS: Just heard that Santa Claus at the North Pole and NORAD and other important officials have been informed – and the children of L’Anse and Baraga County will not be forgotten as Santa’s air traffic control is getting constant minute-by-minute updates on the location of all the nice boys and girls.
EXPECT CRISIS TO LAST THREE DAYS IS LATEST ESTIMATE – AND OFFICIALS HAVE TO TURN OFF SOME 1,500 NATURAL GAS METERS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT
U.P. Breaking News is being told that the crisis could last a while. Keep scrolling for wild inferno video and photo.
Meanwhile – the National Weather Service is expecting weather conditions to get worse not better (please keep scrolling down to read statement) – about 10 a.m. it was about 30 degrees in L’Anse (could be a lot worse).
Emergency generators and large emergency heaters are being brought in from several areas including Marquette to help with the crisis. Officials are making sure all the patients from the Bayside Village Nursing Home are safe and warm – and police are helping to make that happen.
Officials with the Michigan State Police and other emergency folks appeared to be working closely together and have instituted a plan in the event of a crisis – and have managed to keep the residents of Bayside comfortable so far – though temp has dropped just a tad. U.P. Breaking News has been told the MSP has a plan that is operating as hoped – but there is still a huge task ahead for all involved.
We have heard that even those with livestock are having to make special preparations to last out the crisis – as “it could be a couple of days or more.”
If I lived in the L’Anse area I would be planning now how to get through the next few days safely with family, children, animals – because all indications are this could take a while.
URGENT – Check on the elderly and those with special needs – AND ALL Farm Animals and Pets
Emergency sources say there are fears it could be after Christmas before people can move back into all homes. Of course officials are doing everything they can to prevent that – but it appears the 2016 L’Anse Christmas Crisis is expanding. Sources say even the Baraga County Emergency Operations Center has been moved because of no heat.
The elderly may have to be moved from care facilities – and all elderly should be checked on in your community – this is important. Time to pull together as we Americans always do. Officials are in the process of setting up their temporary emergency crisis center location. The L’Anse Area High School is a main warming center – and could become more.
Hazardous Weather Outlook
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
458 AM EST FRI DEC 23 2016
MIZ001>007-009>014-084-085-241200-
KEWEENAW-ONTONAGON-NORTHERN HOUGHTON-BARAGA-MARQUETTE-ALGER-LUCE-
GOGEBIC-IRON-DICKINSON-MENOMINEE-DELTA-SOUTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT-
SOUTHERN HOUGHTON-NORTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT-
458 AM EST FRI DEC 23 2016 /358 AM CST FRI DEC 23 2016/
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN UPPER
MICHIGAN AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD WEST AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. WET SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 2 TO 4 INCHES OVER THE
SOUTH CENTRAL WILL LEAD TO HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. SEE THE
LATEST WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
A LARGER STORM SYSTEM WILL AFFECT UPPER MICHIGAN WITH A WINTRY MIX
OF RAIN...FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW LATE CHRISTMAS DAY INTO
EARLY MONDAY. THERE WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS WELL...WHICH WILL
LINGER INTO MONDAY NIGHT AS THE MIXED PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONS TO
LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WITH THE ARRIVAL OF COLDER AIR. THE STRONG
WINDS MAY CAUSE WAVES TO BUILD AS HIGH AS 10 FEET ALONG EXPOSED
SECTIONS OF THE GREAT LAKES SHORES...WHICH MAY RESULT IN SOME MINOR
BEACH EROSION.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND OCCURRENCES
OF REDUCED VISIBILITY AND ANY KNOWN ROAD CONDITIONS TO THE MARQUETTE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. THE PUBLIC MAY PROVIDE REPORTS
THROUGH OUR WEB PAGE...OUR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER PAGES...OR BY PHONE.
—–
There are reports of warming centers being opened for those affected by this morning’s inferno – and are without heat in Baraga County – Bundle Up and Make Alternative Plans – Repairs and relighting could take a long while
By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director – 1-906-273-2433 (anytime)
Our L’Anse contacts tell us that Baraga County Emergency Manager Jeffrey Hubbard is opening warming centers as officials grapple with a pre-Chistmas emergency that is affecting hundreds lives – if not more.
It is unclear how long natural gas services will be out in Baraga County – and L’Anse areas.
However, U.P. Breaking News has been called by several area residents who are reporting the natural gas could be off for days instead of hours. So far, our contacts say that the best warming center (so far) is set up by the good folks at Baraga Area Schools – tho listen for others.
Also L’Anse residents are telling us officials want those affected to implement a let-run if needed to avoid burst water pipes and ensure that water doesn’t freeze in your frozen home. Bills will reportedly be adjusted. However, look for an official announcement on their website to ensure rules are followed:
http://www.villageoflanse.org
http://www.villageoflanse.org/utilities
Emergency officials are encouraged to call U.P. Breaking News with any statements they want put out – but we understand local radio is doing a good job. The contact number listed for emergency officials is below.
Like we said – not clear but brrrrr. Plus make sure you listen to local radio stations to find out the details including the process of shutting down – eventually relighting.
And any evacuations that are called today like large facilities that house the elderly – and every home without heat.
Plus scroll down to see two exclusive and dramatic natural gas inferno videos
URGENT: Baraga County Emergency Management
Jeffrey Hubbard, Emergency Manager
940 US Hwy 41
L’Anse, MI 49946
Phone: (906) 524-6100 Ext. 695
911 Director
Bob Larson
2 S. Main Street
L’Anse, MI
Phone: (906) 524-6100 Ext. 312
baraga911@baragacounty.org
Plus scroll down to see two exclusive and dramatic fire videos
Trevor Uren and Jerry Fish, Jr. who both gave us these exclusive images before the inferno was knocked down
Update 5:31 a.m. – The natural gas fire is out but any Baraga County residents who are waking up cold this morning are still feeling the effects of the early morning crash and inferno near Erickson’s Lumber and the railroad tracks east of L’Anse MI.
Pretty Much the Second Real Christmas Miracle of the 2016 Holiday Season and in Less Than 24 Hours!
The logging trucks in Sagola, MI and now this – and no one is dead!!!! Both could have been fatal.
There are reports that all natural gas in the area was turned off – not sure when it will be back on. Let us know if you were effected by comment on our facebook page – please. Want to know who is warm and cold – naughty or nice.
Special thanks to our exclusive contributors on the scene early today – Trevor Uren and Jerry Fish, Jr. who both gave us these exclusive images before the inferno was knocked down.
Updated 5:22 a.m. – Sounds like officials are reopening traffic in both directions on U.S.-41 after the Inferno this morning just east of L’Anse, MI – however expect big delays and very icy conditions – although MDOT plows/sanders are on the job
Updated at 5:10 a.m. U.P. Breaking News Traffic Advisory – Baraga County crash into gas main/Inferno -fire out – 41 to reopen as soon as possible – no exact time
More exclusive video on today’s inferno near L’Anse – now that fire is knocked down officials are going to try to reopen U.S.-41 as soon as possible – not exact time.
We have new exclusive video by Jerry Fish, Jr. – and also Lucky to have exclusive video and photos by Trevor Uren – both loyal U.P. Breaking News readers.
By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director – 1-906-273-2433
Update 5 a.m. ET 12-23-16 Friday – – U.S.-41 to be closed for several hours as the gas main inferno has been knocked down – but its very icy and a lots of water was used.
See the wild and exclusive photo and video by Trevor Uren
Uren says within past few minutes firefighters knocked down the inferno.
Uren tells U.P. Breaking News that authorities are apparently search for the driver of the vehicle that hit the gas main – who reportedly fled on foot.
He confirmed that apparently a vehicle had struck the gas main – and it exploded into the nighttime sky.
Scroll down to read more details.
Natural Gas main shoots up into nighttime sky near L’Anse, MI following vehicle crash
Above Photo and video by Trevor Uren
Exclusive Video by Jerry Fish, Jr.
U.S.-41 following fiery crash and blaze reported just east of L’Anse, MI
Updated at 5:10 a.m. U.P. Breaking News Traffic Advisory – Baraga County crash into gas main/Inferno -fire out – 41 to reopen as soon as possible – no exact time
More exclusive video on today’s inferno near L’Anse – now that fire is knocked down officials are going to try to reopen U.S.-41 as soon as possible – not exact time.
We have new exclusive video by Jerry Fish, Jr. – and also Lucky to have exclusive video and photos by Trevor Uren – both loyal U.P. Breaking News readers.
By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director – 1-906-273-2433
U.P. Breaking News Traffic Advisory – Baraga County crash into gas main/Inferno – 4:30 a.m. a.m. ET Friday 12-23-16 U.S.-41 following crash and blaze just east of L’Anse, MI
By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director – 1-906-273-2433
(L’Anse, MI) – U.S.-41 has been closed for the next several hours near L’Anse, MI following a reported early morning car crash and fire.
The initial call indicated a natural gas main had burst into flames – and its not clear exactly what remains on fire.
Numerous emergency officials responded to a report of a large fire this morning following a wreck just east of L’Anse after MSP requested the highway be closed for several hours beginning at 4:25 a.m.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has been asked to bring barricades.
The Baraga County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police were reported on the scene.
The L’Anse Fire Department is responded at about 3:34 this morning to a report of a vehicle into a gas main on U.S.-41 – fire but reportedly no one was in vehicle.
The fire department has been sent to in front of Erickson’s Lumber.
“A car has struck a gas main – there is fire,” the dispatcher said.
Initially everyone was reported out of the vehicle – no injuries reported – however its is not clear if that has changed upon further investigation.
Details of wreck were not available.
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Upper Peninsula Breaking News by Greg Peterson 