State of emergency, evacuation order set to be terminated in Wheatley

A state of emergency and evacuation order was enacted on June 3 due to a gas leak reported at 15 Erie St. North on June 2.

Municipal officials say gas monitoring was carried out every 15 minutes during this period by CK Fire Services.

In addition to that monitoring, gas readings were performed by the Provincial Hazardous Materials Team and a private sector gas monitoring company.

Mayor Darrin Canniff said no hydrogen sulphide gas has been detected at that site since Friday, June 4.

Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire said given the absence of gas for this many days there is no justification to continue the state of emergency.

With the termination of the state of emergency, the evacuation order will also be terminated hopefully as early as noon on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Municipal officials say.

When this takes place residents and business owners will no longer be prevented from entering their properties.

The municipality has consulted with subject matter experts at the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and the Solicitor General, all of whom acknowledged that the Municipality has responded to the gas leak according to best practices and no additional action by the Municipality has been recommended.

The Municipality has also consulted with industry experts in the private sector who have recommended private property owners consider gas monitoring on their properties.

Chatham Kent Fire Services personnel have been on scene since the state of emergency was declared and will remain there until it and the evacuation order concludes.

Utilities will be restored as the state of emergency and the evacuation order are terminated.

A notice of the termination of the state of emergency will be provided to the media and posted on the municipality’s social media accounts once confirmed.

Property owners are directed to contact the proper utilities to work through that process.

Emergency personnel will then be available Saturday to accompany residents and business owners to their properties and perform gas monitoring if requested.

The municipality is inviting residents to participate in a Virtual Town Hall meeting via the Zoom platform with local and provincial officials at 11 a.m. Saturday to answer any questions residents may have.

Log-in details, here.

A resource centre is being established at the Wheatley arena Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Residents who cannot attend the online meeting can visit the arena.

General information will also be available from noon to 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. by calling 519.350.2956.

The municipality is providing garbage bins near the evacuation site in the event residents need to dispose of perishables left in their residences or buildings during the evacuation. Local food banks have been approached about providing emergency aid for those who may have had to dispose of food.

A fact sheet on hydrogen sulphide can be found on the Chatham-Kent Public Health website at https://ckphu.com/health-topics/emergency-preparedness/hydrogen-sulphide-h2s/

The Municipality is reminding people that in the event that you smell or otherwise detect gas, you should immediately leave the building and contact 911.

People may want to consider having a ‘Grab and Go’ back by your door in the event you are required to leave quickly.

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