KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri’s Public Service Commission released a comprehensive report Thursday on the natural gas explosion at JJ’s Restaurant last February.
The explosion killed a JJ’s server, Megan Cramer, and wounded 15 others.
The report is 120 pages long and spells out what Missouri Gas Energy should have done differently that evening. Click here for a link to the full report.
The report states that MGE failed to appreciate the extent of the emergency and said that lack of appreciation had an impact on the actions they took to preserve life and property.
The PSC report says MGE was responsible for securing the natural gas leak after a construction worker struck the gas line. The PSC concludes their response lacked urgency and action.
“Our principal conclusion was that MGE failed to implement its own emergency procedures plan,” said Kevin Thompson, MO Public Service Commission attorney.
The key findings about MGE’s response include:
- MGE waited too long to check the gas levels to see how dangerous they were. They waited a half an hour after arriving before going inside a building to check the gas levels at leak sites.
- MGE was not prepared and immediately ready to respond. According to the report, one employee’s detection device had dead batteries that had to be replaced before levels could be tested.
- MGE waited too long to call for an evacuation and make sure other agencies like the police and fire departments were evacuating people from the buildings at the leak site.
MGE issued a statement after the report was released that said:
MGE disagrees with the alleged violations and will vigorously challenge them in the formal legal process. The gas company also denies a number of the allegations and says there are important facts related to the incident that were not included.
JJ’s Restaurant owner Jimmy Franze said he couldn’t comment on the report, but his attorney Steve Emerson released a statement. In part, it said:
“MGE’s emergency response to the ruptured gas main was too little and too late.”
Related: Violations issued and fines handed down in JJ’s explosion
The Public Service Commission will now reportedly file a two-count complaint against MGE. A circuit court judge would decide if MGE should face any penalties based on the complaints.
Franze’s case against MGE is set for trial in July of next year.
