Alabama Pipeline Explosion: Deal Hopes to Avoid Shortage Concerns in Georgia

ATLANTA, GA — Gov. Nathan Deal issued an executive order on Tuesday in hopes of addressing any gas transport issues this week. An Alabama pipeline exploded Monday, killing one person, injuring 5, and shutting down the gasoline line for the rest of the week.

The order from Deal waves the state's limits on the hours that commercial truck drivers can operate. The waiver lasts until Nov. 15.

"This measure is intended to help ensure uninterrupted fuel supply in Georgia as we await more information from Alabama officials," Deal said in a statement. "Until normal pipeline production resumes, I urge the public to maintain regular consumption levels and travel schedules."

The explosion Monday was caused when a team of contractors doing repair work hit a gas line, shutting down a gas line operated by Colonial Pipeline. The company said the pipeline experienced an "incident" when the trackhoe a contract crew was using hit a gas line. Gasoline was ignited and caused a fire, which has since been contained, and is being allowed to burn under the supervision of local authorities.

In a press release, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said the work the contractor was doing was necessary to install a permanent repair required by September's pipeline rupture, which caused serious gas-shortage concerns in the southeast.

Gas Buddy analyst Patrick DeHaan told Patch the potential effect on gas prices was scaled down when Colonial suggested the pipeline would reopen by the end of the week. The initial expectation was that the pipeline would be closed for several weeks. Still, DeHaan says statewide averages in Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas are slightly higher.

"Our top priorities continue to be ensuring the safety of responders, and supporting the personnel and their families who have been impacted by this event," Colonial said in a statement Tuesday. "To that end, we are working with our contractor partner and have deployed a family and community support team, which includes grief counselors.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the four individuals who were injured and who continue to receive care at area hospitals."

Out of an abundance of caution, containment boom has been deployed at two different locations on the Cahaba River.

Colonial Pipeline delivers more than 100 million gallons of refined products each day to markets between Houston and New York City, serving more than 50 million people, according to information from the company.

Includes reporting by Feroze Dhanoa | Image via Alabama Office of Emergency Management