Cetronia, Greenawalds and Woodlawn firefighters along with South Whitehall police responded to Tilghman Square, 4600 Broadway South Whitehall, Aug. 24 when a contractor struck a gas main at the rear of the complex.

Assisting police with traffic control were Upper Macungie police officers and fire police from the three South Whitehall fire departments.

All businesses in the complex were evacuated until the leak was repaired.

Regina Luciano of Emmaus, former assistant advertising sales manager for The Press, commented on Facebook about the gas leak.

“Feeling grateful! Working out at Planet Fitness-Tilghman Street this a.m. when an alarm sounded,” Luciano said.

“Everyone was told to evacuate - a gas main was hit behind the building - the scent of gas was immediate.

“I had a split second thought - do I go to my locker? No - go out the door! So all of us at the gym left immediately - no panic.

“Well, hours later, I am home typing this but I do not have my phone, car, house key, glasses, wallet.”

Luciano said someone lent her a phone and her husband, Mike, came with a second car key.

“I was able to leave the lot but electricity was shut down in the entire strip mall,” Luciano stated. “Gas was shut off right away.

“Firetrucks, police closed entrances to parking lot.

“So yes, I am grateful to be here. My angels were around me again ... Thank you God!”

Luciano was not sure when she would be able to get her “stuff” out of her locker.

“But that is OK,” she wrote. “Nobody hesitated lending me their phones either. That was nice.

“Weird lonely feeling though - being I was by myself. Others were around - no one I knew but I made friends ... all is good now.”

UGI was dispatched to the scene to repair the leak and PPL responded to disconnect electricity in the area.