By KRWG News
New Mexico – Gov. Susana Martinez has declared a state of emergency as thousands of New Mexico residents lost natural gas service due to the bitter cold.
Martinez sent all nonessential state workers home for the day Thursday, and urged all residents to turn down their thermostats, bundle up and shut off appliances they don't need for the next 24 hours.
Demand soared because of extremely cold weather across the state since Tuesday. New Mexico Gas Company said rolling blackouts in West Texas also impeded the delivery of natural gas into New Mexico.
The company said service was disrupted throughout the state in Bernalillo, Placitas, Taos, Questa, Red River and parts of Albuquerque, Silver City, Alamogordo, Tularosa and La Luz.
Martinez said residents needing help finding a shelter or getting to one should call the non-emergency police or fire phone number in their community.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.