Some Arcadia Residents Evacuated After Contractor Hits Gas Main; 200 Block E Howard Ave Remains Closed
Hamilton County emergency officials issued an urgent evacuation order at 7: 20 p. m. Monday after an independent contractor struck a large gas main, and residents on the 200 block e howard ave remained under evacuation into the night.
200 Block E Howard Ave remains under evacuation
Jackson Township Fire Department posted at 10: 22 p. m. Monday that most residents were cleared to return to their homes, but the 200 block of East Howard Avenue remained inside the active evacuation area. Arcadia Police ordered people to move away from the intersection of East and Howard streets immediately as crews worked on the leak.
Evacuation zone and response
Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency issued the evacuation for parts of northern Arcadia after the fiber-contractor strike. Alerts asked residents within a quarter-mile of West East Street and Howard Avenue to leave the area until the problem was corrected. Officials set the evacuation boundary from Olive Street on the west to State Road 19 on the east, with 266th Street as the northern limit and South Rollins Street as the southern limit.
Where residents went and how long repairs could take
The Arcadia Town Hall opened as a shelter and information point for displaced residents to stay and obtain updates. Emergency officials warned the process to repair the damaged gas main could take up to six hours or more to correct, and law enforcement and fire personnel remained at the scene while utility crews worked.
Arcadia’s town website notes CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas service for the area. Town officials and emergency teams said they would post an all-clear message on social media once the area was safe and residents could return.
Residents on the 200 block e howard ave continued to be advised to remain away from their homes until crews complete repairs and officials lift the restriction.
Jackson Township Fire Department said it will issue the all-clear on social media when conditions are safe for residents to return to the affected area.
