Hope International brings showers, laundry services to Jackson amid gas outage

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

JACKSON, Mo. (KBSI) — Thousands of Jackson residents remain without natural gas after severe storms damaged a major gas line Thursday night, leaving many homes without hot water. Disaster relief organization Hope International stepped in after learning about the outage, bringing mobile shower and laundry trailers to 525 S. Hope Street in Jackson.

The outage has disrupted everyday routines for many residents who now lack access to hot water for basic needs like showering and doing laundry.

The Jackson Fire Department helped coordinate the effort and offered its former fire administration building as a location for the trailers.

Tim Russell, president of Hope International, said the organization moved quickly after hearing residents could be without hot water for several days.

“We just heard about the situation yesterday,” Russell said. “It sounds like people are going to be without hot water for a minute, and there’s nothing like having a good hot shower.”

The trailers provide showers, laundry services and supplies for residents who need them while repairs continue.

Russell said volunteers are prepared to remain in Jackson for as long as the community needs assistance.

“We have resources. Why sit on the resources when we can be in the community and making sure that people’s needs are taken care of,” Russell said. “We’re prepped and ready to meet those needs for as long as it takes. If it takes a couple of days or a couple of weeks, we’ll be here on site making sure those needs are taken care of.”

City leaders say crews continue working to repair the line.

In an update Sunday evening, officials said gas has now been reintroduced into the system and crews have begun turning meters back on to restore service to customers. As part of the process, crews must go home to home to turn on gas meters and complete safety checks on appliances.

Someone 18 or older must be present to allow crews inside the home so they can relight equipment such as furnaces, water heaters and stoves. If crews miss a home, they will leave a door hanger with instructions for residents to contact customer care.

Officials say restoration will take time, but they currently expect service to be fully restored by the end of the week.

Hope International says the services are available to residents affected by the outage until natural gas service is restored.