The cities of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover were ravished yesterday by disastrous gas explosions and up to 60 fires. Townsend Energy & Insurance is offering our assistance to the homeowners and businesses in the affected areas. We have been in touch with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to coordinate our assistance efforts in providing emergency power generation and additional support.

If you would like to provide assistance to victims in the Merrimack Valley, please use these resources to help people in need:

1. Visit the Red Cross Massachusetts website. Officials say they will need more supplies as they go, and the best way people can help is by donating at 1-800-RED-CROSS or at their website. Anyone who wishes to volunteer can also sign up at the website. Or you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
   
   
2. Visit the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster website. The Salvation Army Services Team is in Lawrence working to keep more than 300 first responders fed and hydrated. The agency said they also had reception centers set up in Andover and North Andover.
   
   
3. Visit the Lawrence Emergency Fund website. The Essex County Community Foundation is prepared to assist those in need through its Lawrence Emergency Fund. Donations made to the fund during this time will support those affected by the fires in the Greater Lawrence area.

Your support will help the individuals and families impacted by these tragedies.

“For those of us with heating oil and propane customers in the greater Merrimack Valley we stand ready to help homes and businesses restore or repair their heating and cooling systems if needed and provide fuel to emergency response teams who will be working in the area,”  -  Jim Townsend, CEO of Townsend Energy