Downtown Lodi Buildings Evacuated Thursday Due To Strong Gas Smell

Lodi police say flooding caused building furnaces in the downtown area to quit working properly and release a cloud of natural gas.  Several buildings were evacuated Thursday due to the strong smell of that escaping gas.  There were no fires or explosions.  The Red Cross set up a temporary shelter at Lodi Elementary School because both gas and power were shut off in and near the downtown area.  The community continues to seek volunteers to sandbagging as flooding gets worse.