Gary Detman

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Authorities have contained a natural gas leak on the Westside. The evacuation order for homes and businesses within several blocks of the area has been lifted. The gas leak happened on Verna Boulevard and Mamie Road near Normandy . Two people suffered injuries, one person went to Shands Jacksonville, the other went to Baptist. The Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at Evangel Temple, but no evacuees went there. Workers at a Subway Restaurant on Normandy told First Coast News customers ran in saying there's a gas leak in the area. "We were scared to death when we found out what it was, then we just knew we got to leave," said Vanessa Long who runs a janitorial supply store nearby. "Something like that as close as we were, just like the explosion on the Northside." People reported hearing a gushing noise for quite some time, but at 3:24 p.m., First Coast News reporter Jackelyn Barnard reported the gushing noise suddenly stopped. Traffic is now moving smoothly through the area. The leak had homeowners evacuating and businesses closing their doors to business for more than two hours. The Thursday afternoon gas leak got the attention of Theresa Strother. "My husband came in and said an officer said we had to evacuate," said the Westside homeowner. Claude Simmons was bowling when he got the word to leave the area. "They wanted everyone a mile away," he said. Businesses closed their doors for a short time as well. Jamie Rodriguez manages the Discount Tire on Lenox Avenue. He closed and sent his employees home "not only for our safety, but for our customers safety. Many of the bigger stores near the gas leak reopened when Jacksonville Fire Rescue suspended the evacuation order around 4 p.m. TECO Energy is a Tampa-based company that is traded on the S&P 500 and the gas company is one of its four businesses. The Florida Public Service Commission says TECO has a relatively good history. The PSC says last year there were 74 complaints against the gas company and for the months of January and February, a total of 19 complaints. Most of the complaints have to do with service or billing disputes. The St. Petersburg Times reports in 1999, TECO's Tampa Electric Company was involved in an industrial accident. Two workers were killed. The cause of that accident was human error. The workers did not follow company protocol while repairing a generator. Neighbors say they called police and fire out to the area Wednesday morning because of a smell of gas. Neighbors say JFRD checked the area out and left.