Many Hooksett residents are back in warm homes after a gas main break on Wednesday, Nov. 7, forced the evacuation of more than 30 homes in the area surrounding the road construction on Whitehall Road.

Sharon Maraia of Harmony Road said two police officers came to her door around 2:30 p.m. and asked that she leave the premises. Her husband, Joe Maraia, was on the way home from work at the time.

The Maraias were planning on staying at a friend’s house for the night, but Joe Maraia’s medications for a heart condition were left in the house and could not be retrieved until they could get back in, they said.

They said their water has been shut off several times in the past month due to the road construction, and they were irritated about the inconvenience.

At 5:30 p.m., the Maraias were waiting at the police station for word on the incident.

Gas was shut off for about 100 customers, said National Grid spokesman David Graves, adding that work crews were able to begin locating the leak almost immediately.

After the 4-inch gas line was repaired, workers relit the pilot lights for each residence and business that lost gas service.

The break did affect the service for several of the dorms on the Southern New Hampshire University campus.

Traffic was tied up on Daniel Webster Highway and the Londonderry Turnpike for more than six hours until work crews were able to repair the line and clear the scene. The entire ordeal, including relighting the pilot lights, took more than eight hours.