Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services News

#PRNSBEST BASCOM COMMUNITY CENTER TEAM HELP RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY GAS LEAK

CENTER SERVES AS EMERGENCY EVACUATION SITE

Post Date:08/30/2021 10:00 AM

On the morning of Wednesday, August 25, the City of San José Fire Department (SJFD) responded to an alert of a gas leak near the intersection of Race Street and Park Avenue. It was determined that a natural gas line had been struck, and the area was now unsafe for residents. All residents within 900 feet of the gas leak, approximately 325 addresses in total, were asked to evacuate their homes.

In response to this emergency, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) quickly transformed the Bascom Community Center into an evacuation center, offering displaced residents, families and pets a safe space until they could safely return to their homes.

The evacuation center was activated on Wednesday and remained open until late Thursday evening. During the center’s activation, over 180 individuals visited the center to shelter or receive updated information. Residents were provided meals from the City in partnership with Red Cross of Silicon Valley and Team San José.

Bascom Community Center staff setting up their basketball court for the evacuation activation
When PRNS staff was made aware of the incident, they immediately got to work to prepare the community center for evacuated residents.

San José community centers are vital to resident safety, as these locations serve as cooling centers in the summer, warming shelters in the winter, and when needed, emergency shelters during major disasters and localized events that cause displacement of our residents.

Bascom Community Center staff at a check in table
The Bascom Community Center Team set up areas to quickly and safely assist residents with their needs.

Thanks to our #PRNSBest staff at Bascom Community Center, residents, faced with an emergency evacuation from their homes, had a place to shelter until it was safe for them to return home.

PRNS is dedicated to supporting our community through emergencies and understand the importance of every resident having a safe place to go when needed.
For the latest San José news, sanjoseca.gov/news-stories

The ActivateSJ Strategic Plan is the City of San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services’ (PRNS) plan to maintain, improve and expand our facilities, programs and services. The plan guides how we care for and develop a diverse park system, and an abundance of recreation programs and services for all in San José.

Our community centers are vital to our community and serve as cooling centers, shelters during emergency response operations such as major disasters and localized events that cause displacement of our residents. To learn more about our department’s plan and vision to move forward, visit activatesj.org

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