Manhattan Unknown Odor Major Incident 1-8-06

[x635 4,066]

Date: 1-8-06

Time: 0915hrs

Location: Primarily Manhattan, also being reported in Jersey City and other bordering NJ communities.

Frequency:

Units Operating: Numerous FDNY, NYPD, Con Ed Gas Units

Description Of Incident: Numerous reports of "Foul Odor", possibly gas, permeating NYC area strongest in Midtown area of Manhattan.

Writer: x635

Weather: Wind out of the southwest at 6-10 MPH. Low ceiling, 50 degrees and rain.

(Incident Still Breaking At This Time)

As of 0951hrs:

-All PATH trains halted into Manhattan

-Press Conference w/ Mayor Bloomberg scheduled

-NYC Officials still not sure that smell is gas

-Some evacuations, but NYC officials advising those in buildings to stay inside and make sure windows are closed and ventilation systems off.

As of 1007hrs-

-Jersey City Mayor's office stating possibly originating from a gas leak at 4th Avenue & Bleecker Street in Manhattan.

-Majority of phone calls from West 56th St. & Broadway

As of 1016hrs

-Initial NYPD Reports state odor is not harmful

-NYC Office Of Emergency Managment reports oder spreads from Hudson to East River, from Midtown to Battery Park City, similar smells being reported in adjacent NJ.

As of 1018hrs

-Jersey City Mayors Office Spokesperson stating they were informed that the smell was from a gas leak at 191 W. 10th Street at Bleeker, being spread by the wind, they state they were informed of this by NYC. Also state Con Ed and FDNY have been operating in the area

-Media also stating that NYPD is saying there is no leak ATT

As of 1021hrs

-Reports of the gas smell coming in from 155th Street in Manhattan as well.

-Still awaiting press conference with Mayor Bloomberg

As Of 1022hrs:

-Con Ed states no apparent leaks in their system and no drops in pressure.

-Odor has permeated numerous small and large buildings

As of 1028hrs:

-Macys Herald Square has been evacuated. Several subway stations evacuated. NYC Board Of Ed states several schools were evacuated, but students were returned after being told by NYC OEM that odor was not hazardous.

As Of 1030hrs:

-US Department Of Homeland Security says no indication or intelligence that it is terrorism. They are closely monitoring the situation.

As of 1035hrs:

-Reports of building evacuations were due to people thinking that the odor was inside their building. People returning to evacuated buildings after learning it is not their specific building.

As of 1038hrs:

- Numerous conflicting reports from numerous agencies. NYPD reporting nothing of substance can be detected in the air.

As Of 1040hrs:

-PSE&G (NJ Gas Utility) states no leaks or drop in pressure in their system either.

As Of 1042hrs

-MAYOR BLOOMBERG PRESS CONFERENCE

Small routine gas leak at Bleeker & 6th, that could not account for smell that is so pervasive in such a broad area. One cannot smell natural gas, but they can smell the mercaptin added to the natural gas. At this point they don't know which it is, and are investigating. States 911 volume is up tremendously, but they are handling well. Numerous agencies investigating. NYC Air Sensors report nothing in air, and do not sense natural gas. All NYC trains and stations that were stopped are now running again. Con Ed not reporting any loss in pressure. Generally, the levels of gas is not high enough to be harmful. The smell of mercaptin can be irritiating, so mayor reccomending people shut thier windows and ventilation systems. Mayor states may just be a foul odor, but all they know right now is it's not hazardous or harmful. Mayor stating to press that he is not going to speculate and this is being made out to be bigger then it actually is, and this is not a dangerous situation. Also states that it is "most likely mercaptin" at the end of the statement about the odor.

-OEM Commisioner reports 27 EMS calls related to smell. None resulted in transport to the hospital, just people that were "curious".

As Of 1054hrs:

-Some media reports that smell is beginning to dissipate in midtown Manhattan.

As Of 1103hrs:

-Media reporting of similar incident over the summer in Queens,Brooklyn, and Staten Island. No source was ever found after that incident.

As Of 1623hrs:

-Officials still unsure of source of odor or what it was. Investigation ongoing. Majority of odor has dissapated, several reports of people presenting in ERS via walk-in or EMS with symptoms related to the odor with two known hospitalizations at this time.

(Incident information compiled from scanner and media reports)

Edited January 8, 2007 by x635