MIDTOWN EXPLOSION: CON ED PRESS CONFERENCE

Electric and gas seem to be fine. Some steam customers have lost their service.

Sampling for asbestos: no test results back yet.

For now, it's prudent to act as if there were asbestos there.

The Con Ed website now features a press statement that includes the following advisory.

Con Edison is testing for the presence of asbestos, which may be found in the insulation covering older pipes. We do not yet have results of this testing; Con Edison will provide the test results to officials and the public via the local media as soon as the information is available. As a precaution, individuals who were in the area and have debris on their clothing are advised to remove the clothing and seal it in a plastic bag, and then take a shower.

Previous coverage is here.