A 97-year-old woman from Oklahoma was left without gas and hot water for several days after her gas supply was cut off without her knowledge. The situation raised concerns about communication and support for elderly residents, especially during cold weather.
What Happened to Betty Hasting?
The incident took place in Midwest City, where 97-year-old Betty Hasting suddenly lost access to gas in her home.
Her family first noticed the issue when there was no hot water while doing daily household work. At first, they thought it might be a technical problem and even tried fixing it themselves by installing a new thermostat. However, the problem continued, and they realised that there was no gas supply at all.
Living Without Heat and Hot Water
As the days passed, the situation became more difficult for Hasting and her family. Without gas, they had no heating or hot water. They had to depend on a portable heater to stay warm during cold nights.
Her nephew shared that even their pet dogs helped keep them warm, showing how challenging the situation had become for the elderly woman and her household.
Reason Behind the Gas Cut-Off
After contacting Oklahoma Natural Gas, the family finally learned what had happened. According to the company, a neighbour had reported a gas smell, which led to a safety inspection.
During this inspection, a problem was found in the gas line connected to Hasting’s home. As a safety measure, the gas supply was turned off to prevent any possible danger.
Communication Issues with the Company
The main concern raised by the family was that they were not properly informed about the gas being shut off. Hasting and her family said they did not receive any clear notice or message from the company.
On the other hand, the gas company stated that their team had tried to contact the residents by knocking on the door and leaving a notice. However, the family said they never found any such notice.
This lack of communication led to confusion and delay in solving the problem.
Delay in Permanent Solution
When the issue was finally discussed with the company, they explained that the gas line needed to be replaced or modified. This process required approvals, permits, and safety checks.
However, the estimated time for completing the work was around 4 to 6 weeks. For a 97-year-old woman, waiting that long without proper heating or hot water was a serious concern for her family.
Media Intervention Brings Quick Action
After the family reached out to local news channel News 4, things moved quickly. The channel contacted the gas company to highlight the issue.
Soon after this:
- A temporary bracket was installed
- A city inspection was carried out
- A temporary gas solution was provided
Within hours, the situation improved, and the family finally got some relief.
Family’s Reaction
Hasting’s family expressed relief and gratitude after the quick response. They believed that the media’s involvement played a major role in speeding up the process.
They also raised concerns about why such action was not taken earlier, especially considering the age and condition of the resident.
Oklahoma Natural Gas provided News 4 with the following statements before arriving on the property.
“At Oklahoma Natural Gas, safety is our top priority. While we do not discuss specifics about our customers, typically, when our crews respond to an outside odor investigation and identify a safety condition on the customer’s owned pipelines or equipment, service must be turned off to protect the customer and the surrounding community.
In these cases, we attempt to communicate with the affected customer to inform them that natural gas service cannot be restored until repairs are completed and, under some circumstances, discuss additional options.
As a reminder, we encourage any customer who suspects a natural gas leak or emergency should leave the area immediately and call 911, then contact Oklahoma Natural Gas at 800-458-4251
We contacted the customer multiple times and were able to speak directly with both the customer and a family member to explain the process and obtain approval.
The issue was identified on customer‑owned piping and was not related to Oklahoma Natural Gas’s distribution system. With the customer’s approval, we will disconnect the existing yard line, install a new gas line, and relocate the meter. This work requires customer consent, city permits, and safety inspections.
In the meantime, Oklahoma Natural Gas is establishing a temporary service arrangement and completing required safety checks before restoring natural gas service. If no additional issues are identified, temporary service will be safely restored once all safety checks are complete.“
