LA County Supervisors Declared Local Emergency In Wake Of Porter Ranch Gas Leak

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles County Supervisors formally declared a local emergency Tuesday in response to the continuing gas leak that has prompted hundreds of residents to temporarily relocate from the Porter Ranch area.

Supervisor Michael Antonovich proposed the emergency declaration last week, saying the action "will ask for state and federal assistance to provide for our residents in the Porter Ranch area with additional air monitoring and help with efforts to cap the well. This has been going on for 50 days," he told his colleagues Tuesday. "This is a disaster area."

Supervisor Hilda Solis, who is a chair of the board, also proclaimed the local emergency.

On Oct. 23, the leak was discovered near Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon storage facility. The county was notified five days later.

Since then, county health officials have received reports of residents suffering fro nosebleeds, dizziness, nausea and headaches that are linked to the leak.

Nearly 1,700 families have been offered free, temporary relocation while more than 1,000 others have applied.

SoCal Gas Company crews are in the process of drilling a relief well that will allow for the leak to be capped. The process is expected to take several more weeks.

Workers say there is no way to accurately measure the amount of natural gas being lost from the leak until after it has been stopped.

So far, the company has been hit with at least two lawsuits, one of which was filed by L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer.

At this time, no mandatory evacuation orders have been issued.

The decision to ratify the local emergency needs full approval of the board.

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