UPDATE: Texas Gas Transmission says there was no rupture on Verot School Road last night, and there was never any danger.
"The area was always safe. The pressure relief valve functioned properly as a controlled release to atmosphere in order to protect the equipment," says Mercy Kamps, Senior Vice President of Texas Gas Transmission
What happened was an equipment shutdown due to a lightninng storm. A safety pressure relief valve opened to release pressure, Kamps said.
The equipment that was shut down by the storm was back up and running within an hour, Kamps said.
We asked if there wasn't some sort of back-up, and Kamps said there is.
"We do have back-up power generation for the facility that automatically starts with power loss. Last night there was no power loss, but there was a breaker trip on one of our engine cooling fans," Kamps said.
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's deputies told us last night that a gas line ruptured at Texas Gas Transmission on Verot School Road. Capt. John Mowell with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office said several residents have been advised to stay inside at this time, but no evacuations have been ordered.
A gas valve was shut off and Texas Gas operators were on scene trying to resolve the issue.
Many viewers reported hearing a loud noise in the area, and several said it sounded like a tornado. Below is a viewer submitted video from Benji Hebert.
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