The latest word from New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) is that the entire natural gas distribution system on the barrier island has been compromised, officials of hurricane-ravaged Seaside Heights, NJ, told residents of the borough on its website.

“They [NJNG] anticipate six to eight months before Seaside will have gas available. Even though these estimates are preliminary, we wanted you to know now for your long-term planning,” said the borough website.

“We hope to complete our visual inspections [of the damage] later today,” said NJNG spokeswoman Renee Amellio Monday. Until the assessments are complete, she said it would be “premature” to place a time line on when affected distribution infrastructure facilities could be rebuilt and gas made available to residents of Seaside Heights, which was one of the hardest hit areas by Superstorm Sandy.

Due to fires that were burning out of control, NJNG cut off natural gas pressure last Thursday for safety reasons (see Daily GPI, Nov. 2). That increased the risk of water infiltrating the distribution system and damaging it. Distribution facilities will have to be rebuilt before service to the barrier islands can be restored.

With the gas turned off and the fires snuffed, crews were able to make on-the-ground inspections over the weekend. “We have more than 100 personnel on the ground in Long Beach Island who have so far conducted over 3,000 individual service and meter assessments. We expect to complete our above-ground assessment in Long Beach Island on Monday. Because the entire island was flooded, all meters [there] will be replaced,” NJNG said.

“If we are able to gain access, we expect to complete visual inspections of our main today. So far, the Holgate section of the system, which serves 630 customers, appears to be in need of substantial infrastructure replacement.”

NJNG said it has more than 300 personnel on the ground in storm-affected areas.

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