throwing up and had a severe migraine, and i was in severe pain. for three days. and i -- and it wouldn't stop. >> typically at the bottom of the well there will be a safety valve that will stop a look. they took it out 30 years ago when it rusted away and never put it back. >> wow. that sounds culpable. what does the for's state of emergency declaration mean for all of this? >> reporter: a lot of lawsuits. the state will try to fix the problem and will charge socal gas for doing it. the state has already closed two schools because of the methane, and while the gas company says it is paying to relocate thousands it insists the heal problems are temporary. >> the leak is more than a mile away from homes. >> they're trying to trap the methane at the source.