GEORGETOWN, Texas — The evacuation zone in Georgetown is shrinking after a natural gas leak in February.

  • Gas leak occurred February 20
  • Slow ventilation of gas blamed on "unique" soil 
  • 7 businesses and 7 homes remain evacuated

Many people have been able to return to their homes and workplaces, but some say it is not quite business as usual. While small business owners were able to get some financial help from Atmos Energy during the evacuations, they were forced to shutter for weeks. 

READ MORE | Dozens of Businesses, Homes Still Evacuated After Georgetown Gas Leak

Jacque Liendo has been a hairstylist and nail technician in Georgetown for 28 years. Her business, Jacque’s Beauty Salon, has been on Williams Drive for four years. Liendo said the salon was evacuated for nearly six weeks. During that time, Liendo was not able to work. 

“I suffer from fibromyalgia. I have anxiety attacks, and I just was at a real high at that point. It just causes a lot of pain. I was afraid I was going to lose my business,” said Liendo.

When the evacuations were in place, Liendo feared her newer clients would go to other salons and not come back. Meanwhile,  Liendo’s hairstylists looked for other places to work. When the order was lifted in late March, three stylists did not return. Liendo is now looking for other hairstylists, barbers, or nail technicians to rent out the booths.

“It's really sad, because I've done this for 20 years, and it's just really hard. It's the only thing I've ever wanted to do to have my own business, and I love my customers,” she said.

Liendo said she is trying to stay positive and hopeful she will find new people to work with her, because she feels she owed it to her clients. She considers them family, and she vows to stay loyal to them, too. 

“I just know I'm a fighter. I'm not going to give up easy, and I'll be here until I can't be, but I will remain in Georgetown,” Liendo said.

As of April 15, Atmos Energy said  127 evacuations have been lifted, but seven businesses and seven homes remain evacuated. 

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