It could not have occurred at a colder day of the month.

Over 1,000 Coplay residents found themselves without gas and, therefore, heat, last week. Some Whitehall residents were also affected.

Dan Adamo, business development director for UGI, told The Press around 9 a.m. last Wednesday UGI received a number of calls from borough residents regarding issues relating to gas pressure.

The problem, Adamo said, involved a defective gas regulator station resulting in low pressure. In order to resolve the issue, UGI had to shut off gas service to those areas of the borough affected. After UGI repaired the regulator, personnel had to go door to door to reinstate gas service and turn on appliances for affected customers, said Adamo.

Areas in Coplay affected included the Lehigh River west to Ruch and Hokendauqua streets North to Maple Street. Areas in Whitehall Township affected involved the 3000 to 3400 block of North Second Street, the 3100 block of South Front Street through the 3400 block of North Front Street, and from Ruch Street west to South Fifth Avenue and Chestnut Street North to East Columbia Street.

While UGI worked to restore gas service in Coplay, the American Red Cross Greater Lehigh Valley set up an emergency shelter at the Coplay Borough Municipal Building for those residents in need of comfort and warmth.

"It's [shelter] more for people to get warm and get information," said Sharon Christian, volunteer with the Red Cross. "We had a steady stream of people who came in for information."

Although no one stayed the night, the Red Cross was prepared to offer residents a cot to sleep. Also provided were small snacks, coffee and hot cocoa. Shower facilities were offered for women and men, compliments of the YWCA. UGI also provided a breakfast Thursday morning.

Adamo said the shelter was a "group effort," involving UGI, the Red Cross, the borough of Coplay, Lehigh County Emergency Management Agency and Lehigh Valley Animal Response Team (CART), which assisted those residents with pets. UGI also set up a customer information center for affected residents in the Coplay Borough hall.

"We saw immediately there would be a need," Adamo said.

"We were prepared to set up overnight," added Christian.

As of last Friday, gas service was restored to all affected customers of Coplay, Adamo said.