Chatham-Kent provides update on Wheatley efforts

WHEATLEY — Work continues in downtown Wheatley some nine weeks after a Hydrogen Sulphide gas explosion leveled a large portion of the business area and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

In the most recent update, Chatham-Kent’s General Manager of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Thomas Kelly, said that six 10-foot holes have been drilled in the area of the explosion. Gas testing and monitoring continue as they use those readings to determine the next steps.

Municipal Employment and Social Services Case Management Services are available at the Resource Centre at 108 Talbot Street East on Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. The Wheatley Area Food Bank is open at the same location on Tuesday from 9 am to 1 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm.

The Resource Centre also houses the Wheatley Branch of the Chatham-Kent Public Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 pm to 6 pm and Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire said the centre is the result of a partnership between the municipality and the Wheatley Recovery Group, a community effort involving Wheatley residents including the BIA.

“We’ve committed to providing assistance to the community and having the Wheatley Recovery Group involved means we can directly address issues from a local perspective and provide assistance people need most,” said Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire. “We’re grateful for the partnership.”

The municipality is urging residents with questions about the situation to reach out through the centre, call the municipality at 519-360-1998 or 3-1-1 Monday- Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or email ck311@chatham-kent.ca.

“We urge residents to reach out to the municipality or the Wheatley Recovery Group,” said Shropshire. “Social media lends itself to the spread of rumours and half-truths and we’ve seen both recently.”

Chatham-Kent’s General Manager of Community Human Services, April Rietdyk, said housing services are still being provided to a number of families and individuals.

“There may be residents who had temporary accommodations when the evacuation took place but whose circumstances have changed,” she said. “We want residents to know we’re still here to help.”

Evacuees may also call 519-351-8573 Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and ask to speak with a Wheatley Crisis Case Manager for assistance with housing, food and other support services.

Anyone who smells gas should call 9-1-1.

As work continues on finding the source of the gas, there is no timetable for residents to return to their homes to check on their homes and to retrieve items.