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

Tyler Durden's picture




 

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 - 13:25 | 7017903 cejack
cejack's picture

I release that much methane from my anus after my morning coffee.  

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 13:28 | 7017910 didthatreallyhappen
didthatreallyhappen's picture

if it blows liberals off the map, its a good thing

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 13:29 | 7017914 Ms No
Ms No's picture

We are all going to die... Ahhhhhhhh the horror.  They are really going to shit their pants when that thing lights up.  Nothing like a roaring NG well blowout, only this one will be better.

I understand these people's concern but if makes them feel better look at all of what has happened in ND.  After a decade of everything being spewed into the air both flared and unflared,  there are only a couple of really bizarre cancer clusters.

Okay that didn't help... never mind. 

 

 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 13:33 | 7017927 The Carbonator
The Carbonator's picture

The Obama Regime needs to call a town hall and BAN Gas Leaks.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 13:40 | 7017959 WolfgangCire
WolfgangCire's picture

move where? all americans will soon die from radiation anyways. 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 13:58 | 7018032 Luke 21
Luke 21's picture

It seems a little over the top to suggest California residents should leave. There is probably a 5 mile radius from the leak where people should consider leaving.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:08 | 7018079 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

Yes.  The blast zone when they light it.  5 miles sounds about right.  

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:57 | 7018344 Yes We Can. But...
Yes We Can. But Lets Not.'s picture

I wonder if a blast shock-wave could trigger 'the big one'.  I am at the moment a few miles from the San Andreas fault, and we had a quake a few days ago...

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:21 | 7018477 markar
markar's picture

That's a lot of people considering how close Santa Clarita is: Pop: 200,000

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:02 | 7018048 Marco
Marco's picture

This company should be placed in receivership immediately, the only reason the company is downplaying the risks is because a couple of directors want to get out with golden parachutes before it goes bankrupt.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:07 | 7018073 Fireman
Fireman's picture

USSA has a real bad case of gastro-colic fistula. It's symptomatic of the sickness that pervades the nation. God is trying to tell you mutts something but I doubt if it will make a damn bit of difference as the country implodes.

 

"Fecal vomiting is often a consequence of an intestinal obstruction or a gastro-colic fistula. When feces cannot be excreted by the body in the usual manner, reverse peristalsis takes place, which causes feces to enter the stomach, which expels the material."

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:12 | 7018102 Obaminator
Obaminator's picture

Why the hell is this even on ZH?

Ive been noticing a trend on the posts on ZH this past year...and its this: More and More posts are getting away from presenting hard FACTS, and more toward what I deem JUNK posts about celebs, and totall non economic issues.

I Wish ML-BUST.com was still around.

GarrrrrrBage!

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 20:50 | 7019942 Dickweed Wang
Dickweed Wang's picture

Ive been noticing a trend on the posts on ZH this past year...and its this: More and More posts are getting away from presenting hard FACTS and more toward what I deem JUNK posts about celebs, and totall non economic issues.

 

Celebs??  WTF?? "Junk" is in the eye of the beholder pal.

Either you are relatively new to ZH or you simply haven't been paying attention to the articles that are regularly posted on the site.  For years ZH has ALWAYS provided a mix of economic, geopolitical, editorial and general interest stories. Their ability to provide a good variety of real news, and uncensored opinion pieces, is what makes ZH one of the best, if not THE BEST, news sites on the net. I've been a regular follower of this site for over five years and there is not much difference in that mix now than there ever has been. 

If you want pure economic "news" there are plenty of other sites you can spend your time on that do just that.  I call that BORING . . . . .

BTW . . . Don't you think that this gas leak in SOCAL has economic ramifications? I guarantee it does . . .

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:41 | 7018242 Gort
Gort's picture

World's largest Dutch Oven?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:41 | 7018247 libtardhater
libtardhater's picture

Their homes and property are now worthless...either way, they are fucked!!!!

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:19 | 7018461 markar
markar's picture

Good point. They can't stay and they can't sell.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:54 | 7018272 Yes We Can. But...
Yes We Can. But Lets Not.'s picture

Lots of talk here about CA sucking (I think there is much about it that does suck but the deserts are gorgeous and walking amidst 1000 year old Sierra Redwoods is magical) and where is best place to live - to raise a family, to work, to own a home, to not be overwhelmed.  I have a theory.

The IKEA/HomeGoods/Airport test.  Best cities to live in, IMO are big enough to support a HomeGoods, too small to have an IKEA, and must have an easy to use airport.  Omaha, Des Moines, Palm Springs, you tell me....

Fewer airport/travel hassles, the TSA tend not to be jerks, the cops tend not to be goons, people tend to be more civil, you can live in a nicer home, property taxes lower, and there is- - arguably - enough 'to do'.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:57 | 7018346 Skiprrrdog
Skiprrrdog's picture

California would be *awesome* if it werent for californians...

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 20:37 | 7019899 Dickweed Wang
Dickweed Wang's picture

California would be *awesome* if it werent for californians...

 

It would also be "awesome" if they didn't cram 18 million people into one bowl surrounded by mountains in the south part of the state and another 12 million people into another bowl surrounded by mountains in the north part of the state (I lived in the north bowl area for 3 years). 

The other problem they have there is the people have no fucking idea of how to drive or what the "rules of the road" are (like staying out the left lane on the freeway unless you are passing).  I've been to 47 of the 50 states, and most major metro areas in the country, and the drivers in CA are by far the worst I've ever encountered (D.C and Houston are a close 2nd/3rd).

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 12:29 | 7022038 Amy G. Dala
Amy G. Dala's picture

beat me to it, skip.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:17 | 7018451 markar
markar's picture

I live in Palm Springs and I can tell you the TSA here is among the most intrusive I've experienced anywhere.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:22 | 7018485 Yes We Can. But...
Yes We Can. But Lets Not.'s picture

Didn't know that.  Damned nice little airport, though.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 12:29 | 7022035 Amy G. Dala
Amy G. Dala's picture

California would be great, if it wasn't in California.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:46 | 7018285 Clowns on Acid
Clowns on Acid's picture

Is Obama crying about this yet..?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:55 | 7018334 I-am-not-one-of-them
I-am-not-one-of-them's picture

crying?

the word you're looking for is "whitewash"

other words could be dismissing, minimizing, slapping on the wrist

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:50 | 7018301 Falconsixone
Falconsixone's picture

Try D.C. if your moving.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:52 | 7018312 I-am-not-one-of-them
I-am-not-one-of-them's picture

may I interject some Bill Clinton wisdom here for the beseiged residents

"breathe but don't inhale"

(or was that just another one of his lies/deceptions, did he fool anyone?)

China would have had the Gas executives shot by now

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:58 | 7018349 phoolish
phoolish's picture

Whereas methane could be considered "non-toxic" I doubt very much that whatever is in this flow is entirely non-toxic.  Probably alot of H2S and metals too that are not "non-toxic."

 

 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 20:28 | 7019869 Dickweed Wang
Dickweed Wang's picture

Whereas methane could be considered "non-toxic" I doubt very much that whatever is in this flow is entirely non-toxic.

 

Very good point!  One thing you don't hear ANYONE mention regarding this leak is the amount of radon gas that is being emitted along with the methane everyone is talking about.  Radon, even in very small amounts, is an extreme carcinogen . . . that's why even in areas where it's being emitted naturally from the ground under houses in some areas of the country they go to elaborate lengths to install radon filters in and around houses to prevent the residents from being exposed to the gas. 

My questions to the people involved in the leak in So Cal would be - How much radon is being released in this gas plume?  Why isn't that data being made public?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:00 | 7018358 Skiprrrdog
Skiprrrdog's picture

Speaking of unnatural gas they caught El Chapo. As it turns out, he was hiding under Obongos bed; he said he could not take the incessant sound of pole smoking, so he turned himself in...

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:05 | 7018385 B.S.D.
B.S.D.'s picture

Overpopulation would mean the intellegent designer (GOD) didnt see this coming when He said go forth & be frutiful & multiply?...overpop is a lie just like evolution, global warming and the prevailing mantra of "Do what thou wilt"...We are gonna pay..but it wont be because we didnt recycle enough. Fuck Lucifer, the NWO & smooth jazz

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:05 | 7018386 B.S.D.
B.S.D.'s picture

Overpopulation would mean the intellegent designer (GOD) didnt see this coming when He said go forth & be frutiful & multiply?...overpop is a lie just like evolution, global warming and the prevailing mantra of "Do what thou wilt"...We are gonna pay..but it wont be because we didnt recycle enough. Fuck Lucifer, the NWO & smooth jazz

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:13 | 7018429 Skiprrrdog
Skiprrrdog's picture

Why don't we just send Oblowme down there to weld it up for us?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:29 | 7018526 J Jason Djfmam
J Jason Djfmam's picture

Sounds like a junk shot to me.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:26 | 7018512 samlowrey
samlowrey's picture

Jeez, this is nothing compared to what gets released naturally every day.........fucking voters.....pfft....

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:30 | 7018538 Solio
Solio's picture

The question about measuring the radiation in the plume really obscures a more important one: have heavy metals ever been pumped dpwn the 8,000' bore, thinking that that would be a safe place to hide, uh.. store, them?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 16:03 | 7018693 Lumberjack
Lumberjack's picture

Dear California, Here ya go...

USSR Gas Well Blow Out = Nuclear Bomb Puts Out The Fire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iB9QYaSVEo

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 16:49 | 7018950 Kprime
Kprime's picture

Natural gas or methane is Not Toxic??  Really?  So I can breathe as much methane as I want and I will go merrily on my way,,, hmmmm.  Sound like your .gov at work again.  Maybe if they surfed something besides porn, got their heads out of the assess, then they would realize just how stupid they sound.

Inhale as much methane as you want, it can't hurt you. However, you might want to peruse the following site:

http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/c/chemical_poisoning_methane/intro.htm

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:34 | 7019177 css1971
css1971's picture

Water is not toxic either. Wouldn't recommend trying to breathe it though.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 16:48 | 7018971 pupdog1
pupdog1's picture

America's TEPCO.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:24 | 7019153 Graph
Graph's picture

Bopal.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:19 | 7019133 JonNadler
JonNadler's picture

we need more gun control to prevent this in the future

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:19 | 7019134 AssN9
AssN9's picture

We gassed some folks

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:56 | 7019260 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

Doctor: Leave now.

Lawyer: Stay and we, or your estate, can sue them later.

 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:57 | 7019267 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

Doesn't anybody in ISIS have access to a pop bottle rocket and a match?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 18:02 | 7019285 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

Aliso Canyon to the Right of them Fukushima to the Left of them....into the valley of death rode

the Pacific/West Coast of America

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 18:27 | 7019389 Moccasin
Moccasin's picture

Flare it and call it a tourist attraction. Charge $5 per person to roast hot-dogs and toast marshmallows from the flame. Advertise it as the biggest 'Natural' gas BBQ in America and people will come. After all its 'Natural' gas.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 20:18 | 7019834 Dickweed Wang
Dickweed Wang's picture

Flare it and call it a tourist attraction. Charge $5 per person to roast hot-dogs and toast marshmallows from the flame.

 

Only problem with that idea is you would have to roast your dog from about 1/4 mile away (probably even more than that).  With the size of the current gas leak the infrared radiation from the flame it would produce would be so hot that's about as close you could get without turning into a cinder.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 21:12 | 7020053 uhland62
uhland62's picture

That's not quite so clear, toxic chemicals they say in the article and then methane. 

That's when you don't have safety inspectors controlling what the mega-corporations do. If the thing ignites and come summer with all it dryness around, it'll enter the Guiness book of recordsw for the biggest human caused event that dirtied the earth. Well done! And there seem to be another 400 of these facilities in the US. We love US standards, please spread them all over the world!!! 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 18:36 | 7019416 Jam
Jam's picture

Pocket pets vomiting, a new euphemism?

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