This website and resource guide will be phased over to a new site over the next few days.

This page has been set up to help provide a centralized location for information and resources for those affected by the recent gas explosions and subsequent fires and evacuations in the Merrimack Valley (Lawrence, Andover, North Andover) on 9/13/18. The page is being updated by volunteers. Please be patient with us as we try to do our best to keep the information current and up-to-date. We will do our best to curate and verify all information.

To submit a resource, email the following to sabrina@progressclothing.org
- organization name
- address
- phone
- short description of services

For business recovery resources, click here.

Updated: 6:10PM, Tuesday, October 23, 2018

PROGRESS UPDATES
Columbia Gas
City of Lawrence: 

• English
• Español

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFO
Columbia Gas

• Affected Customer Helpline: 866-388-3239
• Property Claims Helpline: 800-590-5571
• Gas Emergency: 800-525-8222
• Job Fair Hotline: 866-960-7285

Mayor’s Office: 978-620-3010
State Representative Juana Matias’ Office: 617-722-2582
Attorney General’s Anti-Fraud Hotline: 617-727-2200
MEMA: mass211.org or call 211

​PROGRESS UDATE

Gas Ready Construction Restoration Plan

VOTING

PETS:

The MSPCA (400 Broadway, Methuen) is providing a safe place for pets of people displaced by the emergency. Please contact them directly: 978-687-7453

ELECTRIC UTILITY HELP:

National Grid will be providing discounted rates to those in the affected areas. 

The discounted rate will be provided if the customer provides proof of benefits.  We will enroll have them fill out the application and take the proof of benefits on site and enroll them.

• Arrears Management Program Overview
• Senior Citizen Information

If the customer is on the discount rate, owes over $300, is 60 days overdue, has not participated in the program within the past 2 years - they can enroll in AMP where we forgive the balance a portion at a time. 

Payment plans will be offered to customers that do not qualify for AMP.  We will provide manageable plans to pay off overdue balances

Protections – we have 3 different protections

1. Elderly – everyone in the household is over 62 years old and they provide proof of age there account can be protected from termination
2. Medical – if the doctor submits a medical letter along with a financial hardship statement if they are not on the discount rate stating they need the power for medical reasons there account will be protected from termination
3. Infant – if they have a child that is under 12 months old the account will be protected from termination until the child turns 1 years old.  They have to provide a copy of the birth certificate and financial hardship statement if they are not on the discount rate

HEALTH/THERAPY/COUNSELING:

• Family Services of the Merrimack Valley (430 North Canal St, Lawrence)
  • Provides individual and group mental health counseling, mentoring for youth, parenting groups and trauma services. Most services are bilingual.
• Lawrence Methuen Community Coalition (LMCC) (130 Parker St, Lawrence)
  • Support groups around parenting, addiction issues and can expand topics to included dealing with this crisis and secondary trauma for volunteers.
  • All services are bilingual
• Massachusetts Health Connector to provide premium waivers to residents and businesses in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover impacted by Columbia Gas Accident.
  • Gr. Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC) is partnering with the Massachusetts Health Connector to help members who were impacted by the Columbia Gas incident. The Health Connector is offering premium waivers for up to three months for individual members and Health Connector for Business members who need assistance.
  • Members can secure a waiver by contacting the Health Connector’s customer service center at 877-623-6765 or GLCAC’s Navigator program at 978-620-4784. Members will need to attest on the call that they are impacted by the Sept. 13 incident.
• Northeast Indepedent Living Program (20 Ballard Rd, Lawrence)
  • Has peer support groups for individuals with mental health issues.
  • Open to the public.
• Northern Essex Community College EMPLOYEES: Counseling Available
  • "In support of all faculty and staff who were affected by the gas explosions, fires, power outages and displaced from their homes, we want to remind employees about support services available through our Employee Assistance Program, Higher Ed EAP. Through their Trauma Response services, trained counselors and other certified personnel ready to respond to the needs of those affected by this disaster. Free and confidential telephone counseling, is available 24/7 by calling the professional counselors at 1-800-252-4555 or 1-800-225-2527. (Please mention Northern Essex Community College as your employer.)"
• The Point After Club (15 Union St, Lawrence)
  • A DMH-funded program that serves individual with mental health issues using the Club House model. In order to attend, individuals must meet DMH criteria but do not have to enroll as members.
  • Services include social connections, meals, job placement assistance, peer support and activities.
  • Spanish speaking staff available.
• South Bay Community Services is prioritizing individuals affected by the diasaster 
  • Located within Lawrence Eary Childhood Services (360 Merrimack St, Building 9, Door H, Lawrence) 978-620-0290
  • Located within Lawrence Mental Health (360 Merrimack St, Building 9, Door H, Lawrence) 978-688-4830
• Vinfen
  • Crisis intervention services

Alternative Resources

• What's Good in the Hood - "a platform/online publication where we encourage folks to send in writing, op-ed’s, or art relating to this tragedy. In order to heal, we must heal together. Submit to lawrencewgith@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @lawrencewgith"
• Manos en Accion/My Little Peru (264 Essex St, Lawrence)
  • Offers classes on handmade crafts for women in children in order to provide therapeutic social connections and opportunities for individuals to learn new skills & potentially earn money from their cradt. 
  • Hosted in Spanish.
• Zumba Fitness with Mary @ Izizwe Dance Studio (50 Island St, Entry B, Lawrence) Thursdays 7:30PM
  • 10 Free Classes to South Lawrence, Andover & North Andover Residents; 
  • 5 Free Classes to those who live elsewhere but their fitness schedule was disrupted during the disaster when you donate a food item or gift card that will be brought to the Senior Center as the central donation hub.

Faith-Based Resources

• Iglesia De Dios De La Prosecia (54 East Haverhill St, Lawrence)
  • Offers youth education, physical education/baseball, and mentoring.
  • They also have a very unique program to support the deaf/mute community.
  • Services in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL)
• Christ United Methodis Church (Haverhill)
  • Has a "Justice for Neighbors Program" that has a full-time lawyer that works on legal issues including: unaccompanied monors, orientation of new families, school issues and domestic violence.
  • Also has 3 full-size soccer fields that are available for the community/recreational use.
  • Bilingual
• Free Methodist Church ()
  • Counseling program available for families Monday-Friday where participants receive intensive support/outreach.
  • this is a collaboration of 3 churchs and those involved receive contact twice daily either via phone or in person to support their needs.
  • Bilingual.
• Iglesia Metodista Primitiva ()
  • Provides counseling to individuals/couples/groups on Sunday afternoons with food and qualified childcare. Group can meet more frequently if needed.
  • Bilingual
• Methodist Church ()
  • Offers indidivual and group therapy in both traditional and faith-based atmospheres.
  • There are also members of the congregation who are therapists that are willing to volunteer their services.
  • Bilingual
• ​Seventh Day Adventist Church ()
  • Offers counseling services by their certified counselors. Bilingual.

LEGAL HELP:

Northeast LegaL Aid (50 Island St, 2nd fl, Lawrence) Free Legal Help for Elderly and Low-Income Residents

• Northeast Legal Aid (NLA) is a non-profit law office, often referred to "legal aid." NLA handles a wide range of civil cases for low in-come and elderly clients in Essex and Northern Middlesex Counties. In some cases, we provide you with a lawyer to represent you. For other kinds of cases, we may provide you with information and help so that you can take of the matter on your own. NLA services are free. Because NLA has limited funding, it can only some kinds of legal problems and unfortunately, we do not have enough staff to accept all cases. NLA provides civil legal services in the areas of:
  • Elderly Law
  • Family Law
  • Landlord/Tenant Law
  • Consumer Law
  • Public Benefits Law (TAFDC, EAEDC, MassHealth, Food Stamps/SNAP, Social Security)
  • Employment Law
  • Small Business Assistant
  • CORI Sealing
  • Legal Assistance to victims of crime
• ​CONTACT: 800-336-2262 or 978-458-1465. NortheastLegalAid.org

ANDOVER:

• Information
• Town of Andover Streets Cleared and Not Cleared

NORTH ANDOVER:

• Information
• North Andover Columbia Gas Cleared to Return Streets September 2018