Finding Her Voice - Serena Laurel

Serena Laurel, 19, an actress and singer, was 15 when the notification letters from SoCalGas first arrived. “They said it wasn’t dangerous and they were taking care of it. My grandpa told us to check the sky for birds. If the birds aren’t there, it is not safe for us. There were no birds, and no squirrels or rabbits. It was only after watching the Rachel Maddow show that I learned this was lethal. The only reason you smell gas is because it is filled with chemicals that give it a scent to detect leaks. My dad wasn’t convinced until he went jogging and returned 30 minutes later and felt sick. My mom had headaches and we both got a nasal condition that we still have problems with. My voice was constantly hoarse and I couldn’t sing. My parents took me to doctors and they couldn’t explain it. I was in the middle of an album I couldn’t finish. My mom’s photography business suffered. It wasn’t until 10 months after the blowout that my voice felt normal again. We stayed in our home longer than we should have. We were setting up Christmas decorations and we had to stop because we were feeling sick. We realized we weren't safe and we couldn't spend christmas there.”