Doctors Urge California Residents "Leave Now...While You Can" As Gas Leak Fears Grow

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Submitted by Claire Bernish via TheAntiMedia.org,

California Governor Jerry Brown finally declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, concerning the ongoing, currently unstoppable methane gas leak spewing from Aliso Canyon that has created a nightmare for residents of Porter Ranch.

“I will tell you, this goes well beyond Porter Ranch. We’ve had complaints from as far as Chatsworth, Northridge, and Granada Hills,” emphasized Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander during a Porter Ranch town hall meeting on December 28. “Apparently this plume of toxic chemicals and whatever it might be, doesn’t know zip codes […] This is the equivalent of the BP oil spill on land, in a populated community.

Aliso Canyon sits less than two and a half miles from Porter Ranch and less than 30 miles from the city of Los Angeles — the second most populous city in the United States — whose outlying total statistical area includes nearly 18 million residents, as of 2013.

Brown has been widely criticized for lack of decisive action on the leak, which is erupting from its underground storage area with all the force “of a volcano.” Under Wednesday’s declaration, “all state agencies will utilize state personnel, equipment, and facilities to ensure a continuous and thorough state response to this incident.”

Porter Ranch residents have been evacuating the area for some time, though SoCalGas’ rather maladroit handling of the relocation procedure has been a nightmare — and the cause for a mounting number of lawsuits, including one from the L.A. city attorney’s office.

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer filed a civil lawsuit last month concerning the massive methane leak’s impact on area residents’ health and damage to the environment — which alleged failure by SoCalGas to prevent the leak and further exacerbation of “the effects of that failure by allowing acute odor and health problems faced by the community to persist for more than a month, to say nothing about the indefinite time it will persist into the future.”

Pediatrician Dr. Richard Kang gave an ominous warning during the Porter Ranch meeting, saying, “Unfortunately, the only real way to get away from the symptoms is… you have to relocate — you have to get away from the environment.” Health complaints include severe headaches, nosebleeds, respiratory issues including increasing cases of asthma, and a number of other issues.

SoCalGas, in the meantime, stated they were “providing air filters for people’s homes,” but though “the odor added to the leaking gas can cause symptoms for some, the gas is not toxic and county health officials have said the leak does not pose a long-term health risk.

But, as the Los Angeles Daily News reported on December 25, Los Angeles County health officials said prolonged exposure to trace chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens, can cause long-term health effects.” Nevertheless, they also “cautioned that levels examined so far here are not believed to be associated with long-term health problems.”

“The gas company says, ‘This is just the smell you’re reacting to, it’s just temporary, it’s not a problem, it’s not serious’ — these people aren’t stupid,” said attorney Rex Paris. “How could somebody possibly say that? We have children whose noses are bleeding every day, we have people who suffer from chronic headaches [and] are nauseous every, single day. How does that not become a serious issue? Why are they saying something nobody here believes? […] They’re trying to convince everybody that it’s all in our heads. It’s a trick.”

In fact, as Erin Brockovich pointed out, “no one really knows the long-term side effects of benzene and radon, the carcinogens that are commonly found in natural gas.”

Additionally, area house pets seem particularly vulnerable — possibly acting the part of unwitting canaries — as veterinarian Dr. David Smith described in the town hall meeting. Noting he has seen dozens of sickened animals, Smith said, “I’ve seen dogs, cats, birds, pocket pets… the primary symptoms I’ve seen are gastrointestinal vomiting […]These are not things you should be inhaling. He added, “We have seen dermatological issues as well, some very unusual bacterial infections in dogs,” including one case in which a dog had such an infection on its face, and “the client developed almost the exact same kind of symptoms soon after that […] their physician thinks it’s related [to exposure from the gas leak] and so I tend to think these correlations are real.”

Though the declaration of emergency states “the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources shall continue its prohibition against Southern California Gas Company injecting any gas into the Aliso Canyon Storage Facility,” it does not make that moratorium dependent on stoppage of the leak; rather, only “until a comprehensive review, utilizing independent experts […] is completed.”

Physician Dr. Brooks Michaels, addressing the town hall meeting, gave the sternest advice to those still in the area surrounding the unprecedented leak:

“If you have a chance to leave, if you’re able to leave… if you have a chance to relocate, do it now. I’m telling you, it’s really critical.”

Understandably, Brown’s state of emergency seems almost too little, too late for many.

You can watch the Porter Ranch town hall meeting here:

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Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:49 | 7017066 Al Tinfoil
Al Tinfoil's picture

"A giant cloud of SMUG from California is approaching South Park"

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:13 | 7016819 nidaar
nidaar's picture

They should un-frack it.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:13 | 7018428 HowdyDoody
HowdyDoody's picture

The big leak seems to be localised. Cap it and pipe it to a mobile gas turbine* generator to produce electricity which can be fed into the local network. Oh wait, that will cost money and eat into someone's profits. It is better for the bottom line for it to be wasted.

* - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXVVzyz1FLg

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 16:57 | 7019024 Crash Overide
Crash Overide's picture

So when the EPA wants to ban wood burning because of cO2, how many wood burners does this methane leak equal?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:40 | 7017377 roccman
roccman's picture

i believe you are correct

 

interesting all the down votes - apparent to me some of this crowd has not advanced very far.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:48 | 7017418 centerline
centerline's picture

+1.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:48 | 7018297 NoGodsNoMasters...
NoGodsNoMastersNoMotherland's picture

Downvotes probalby because he claimed two hoaxes in one statemet, man made climate change with the "bad" stuff CO2, stuff that plants need to exist and eat, and every species hales out, and overpopulation myth designed by the oligarchs to implement birth control measures and sterilization chemicals in our food and water supply... You probably advanced to far buddy...

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 15:06 | 7022638 Lore
Lore's picture

Quite right. "Global warming" is dead, and advanced populations are self-correcting. If the pompous ass wants to look down his nose at something, he should start with the Anglo-American Establishment for suppressing development, mainly by debt.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:53 | 7017449 swamp
swamp's picture

The white population has done our share of downsizing only to have it held against us while every other race is multiplying like rabbits and invading us

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 12:08 | 7017474 roccman
roccman's picture

not exactly

 

the correct lens at which to look at overpopulation through is "energy slaves"

 

the boy in laos walking 2 miles for a pail of water has far fewer energy slaves than me just turning on the tap.

 

some put 80 energy slaves/ to western societies - that makes the population of america around 2.4 billion.

 

i'm not sure what you mean by "downsizing" changing lightbulbs and taking shorter shower is like pissing in a volcano

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 12:31 | 7017634 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

Are we supposed to feel guilty for not living in caves?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 13:36 | 7017945 roccman
roccman's picture

no - just stupid for not understanding why

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:18 | 7018133 Raging Debate
Raging Debate's picture

Roccman - Shut up asshole. Yeah we Americans use 25% of the worlds energy. So what? Our GDP is 50% of the globe even after the banskters looted the place. The biggest energy wasters and polluters on the planet is the chinks. There is this argument automation will replace all jobs. Then why a billion chinks making widgets? I am sick of this "down with America" shit and whats worse is the CFR traitors helping promote it. Get the memo, the faux global Republic shit is what is very dead. But nice job killing a half decent real Republic here. Fucking retards.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 13:12 | 7022224 GoinFawr
GoinFawr's picture

"So what it's your problem to learn to live with,

Destroy us, or make us saints.

We don't care, it's not our fault,

That we were born too late.

A screaming headache on the brow of (Plato's - Ed.) state,

Killing time is appropriate,

To make a mess and fuck all the rest, we say, we say:

SO WHAT! SO WHAAAAAAAAT!?"

Big Al Jorgenson

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 15:03 | 7022632 roccman
roccman's picture

"chinks" making your shit is the "cause" of waste?

 

brilliant

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 12:54 | 7017762 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

You are a dumb ass. Plant life loves warmer weather.

They also take in CO2 and convert it to oxygen. C02 is what plants use to "breathe" .

Why is the global warming crowd so ignorant of elementary school biology???

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 13:22 | 7017895 pods
pods's picture

Plants may use CO2, but they crave Brawndo!

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 20:08 | 7018946 Parrotile
Parrotile's picture

Looking on the bright side, any increase in atmospheric CO2 might result in an increase in  plant life / diversity (not that we don't already have a very diverse plant population!), with a corresponding increase in atmospheric oxygen concentration.

If our pulmonary fibrotics (and other respiratory cripples) can wait a few tens of centuries, they'll be able to live a relatively normal life, should O2 reach say 35% (late Carboniferous era). Downside is that we may once again see a new era of giant (biting??) insects - maybe the size mosquitoes / Sandflies seen in the film Jumanji, along with many other super-sized creepy-crawlies such as an Arthropleura replica or "modern version".

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:40 | 7018243 NoGodsNoMasters...
NoGodsNoMastersNoMotherland's picture

Overpopulation is a myth and invented for eugenic purposes only...

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:38 | 7016609 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Does this come with pictures of people cleaning oil off of cute little ducks, geese and other waterfowl?  No?  Then nobody gives a shit.

 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:45 | 7016653 Dental Floss Tycoon
Dental Floss Tycoon's picture

Surely someone can generate pictures of dead birds falling from the sky.  I am losing confidence in the media.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:35 | 7016968 Bastiat
Bastiat's picture

A child with a bloody nose would be a good start.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:48 | 7017018 KesselRunin12Parsecs
KesselRunin12Parsecs's picture

Bad idea. The State of California would probably respond to that by kidnapping the kid & then place the little bugger in protective services (operated by a flaming immigrant homo).

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 16:17 | 7018797 zeronetwork
zeronetwork's picture

How about babies dying in the incubators?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:16 | 7017232 The Longest Call
The Longest Call's picture

We need Obama tears for this one.  This is no cow fart.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 12:19 | 7017570 KesselRunin12Parsecs
Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:46 | 7016658 CheapBastard
CheapBastard's picture

MSM will soon have giant close-up photos of a baby sea lion washed up on the shore ....

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:51 | 7016688 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

The only thing worse than Flint water is LA air

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:16 | 7016848 Casey Jones
Casey Jones's picture

Not to get too off topic, but LA air has actually gotten much better in the past 25 years. Look at Bejing pictures for truly foul air.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:35 | 7016970 curbyourrisk
curbyourrisk's picture

It reall han't gotten any better, bure now OTHER cities that have jumped ahead of it. Yeah it has moved down the list...BUT has not gotten any better.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:02 | 7017160 MayIMommaDogFac...
MayIMommaDogFace2theBananaPatch's picture

It actually has improved since the 70s - 80s.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:36 | 7018219 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture

Even better a real baby with blood from its nose warshed up on a MALIBU or Santa Barbra Beach!

 

That stull if what MSM is made for....

 

But tis odd I have read much in the headlines about this serious leak not heard it on npr. YOu'd think the left-wingers would ba ll over this.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:39 | 7016612 847328_3527
847328_3527's picture

"I'm outraged!"

 

~ Soweto

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:41 | 7016624 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

You presume they've even told him about this yet.  

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:37 | 7016606 Dental Floss Tycoon
Dental Floss Tycoon's picture

Set fire to it.  The CO2 polution would be less than the methane.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:39 | 7016618 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Up vote partly for doing a good job thinking outside the box and partly because I get a chuckle every time I see your screen name and avatar.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:10 | 7016799 CPL
CPL's picture

It'll all burn eventually.  It'll just take time and a lighting storm to ignite it.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:54 | 7017110 Miffed Microbio...
Miffed Microbiologist's picture

I believe this can be simply offset by carbon credits. Slaughter of a few billion cattle should do it.

Miffed;-)

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:59 | 7017480 Lumberjack
Lumberjack's picture

Please dont give Deutchbank any ideas...

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:59 | 7017483 centerline
centerline's picture

Or jettison Oprah into low earth orbit.  That ought to net thing out.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 14:50 | 7022595 Wulfkind
Wulfkind's picture

I believe this can be simply offset by carbon credits. Slaughter of a few billion cattle should do it.

Miffed;-)

 

Just have the Fed print some for as long as the leak lasts.  I mean.....they print money too, right?  Should be easy.   CTRL-P for money.   CTRL-ALT-P for carbon credits.   Mr Yellen saves both the American Economy and the World.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 10:41 | 7017016 813kml
813kml's picture

Move a gigantic feedlot in next door and blame the methane on cattle.

It's less about stopping the leak than who gets sued, give the cows the death penalty and delicious justice will be served.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:24 | 7017283 l8apex
l8apex's picture

Tonight's special will be methane-infused ribeye...  

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:50 | 7017433 centerline
centerline's picture

do you just light a match and it cooks itself?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:06 | 7017182 . . . _ _ _ . . .
. . . _ _ _ . . .'s picture

CO2 is not pollution, it's plant food.

CO (carbon monoxide) is pollution.

If people don't start to understand this very simple fact, then we really are all doomed.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 11:44 | 7017396 Lumberjack
Lumberjack's picture

Put a rubberized dome (membrane gas holder) around it and pipe it out to a flare stack or series of large portable generators 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 12:52 | 7017750 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

OK, but you go first....

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:22 | 7018481 samlowrey
samlowrey's picture

Actually, governments are the largest polluters........

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 19:49 | 7019352 Flagit
Flagit's picture

I heard 2 CEO's for KBR had their hearts just...explode, upon hearing of the possibility of a Los Angles evacuation/relocation contract.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 17:38 | 7023153 ThroxxOfVron
ThroxxOfVron's picture

Hmm..

WHO is on the hook for insurace of this 'facility' and the Bonds of the Corporation that owns it??

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