Wheatley residents displaced by explosion grow impatient with municipality as winter looms
Chatham-Kent says it is finalizing plan to allow residents and businesses property access
Residents of Wheatley, Ont., affected by an explosion last August that rocked the downtown core are growing increasingly frustrated with Chatham-Kent municipality for what some call poor communication about how and when they will be able to access their properties to prepare for the winter.
"We're getting mixed signals and we're getting very little communication," said Steve Ingram, a displaced homeowner.
"We worry about our property deteriorating. We worry about our property values dropping. We worry about our chances of getting an insurance policy when this is all over.
Dozens of families remain evacuated from their homes due to the explosion, which destroyed two buildings in the town's centre in August and is suspected to have been caused by a leaking gas well.
In a release last week, the municipality said it was "finalizing the operational plan to allow residents and businesses the opportunity to access their property," and at town meeting on Nov. 3, it outlined the steps for those wanting to get to their properties to gather belongings and ensure things are locked down for the winter.
CBC contacted the municipality on Sunday about access to properties but received no response.
Ingram and his wife, Barb Carson, whose house is just on the inside of the evacuation zone across from an operating gas station on Talbot Road, have been staying at a friend's bed and breakfast most recently.
The couple, along with their insurance agent, are eager to get into the property to remove the fridge and freezer, which have spoiled food in them, close off their pool and winterize their pipes.
WATCH | Wheatley residents frustrated over not being able to get into their homes:
"It is really just making sure that damage isn't done, doing everything we can to make sure our home isn't more and more damaged just by sitting there with no utilities, empty, with the pipes freezing and things like that," Carson said.
Ingram said they were also told by the municipality they would be able to go in for one hour at some point and get some belongings, but that hasn't happened.
"It was summer time... we came out with our shorts and T-shirts, and our wallets and a phone. That's what we came out with. We've had to buy everything since," Ingram said adding that volunteer firefighters have let them in for short windows at times when it was allowed to grab a few things. "When you're in there, the last thing you're thinking about is winter boots."
Away from home
Nancy Bergen's family has been staying at an Airbnb in Leamington. She wants to get into her Wheatley home to take out the air conditioners to prepare for the winter and deal with her fridge and freezer.
"Sept. 20 is the last time I went in and it already smelled bad," she said.
Bergen said she doesn't know when she'll be able to get in.
"Frustrating, it's incredibly frustrating. I mean our kids miss their stuff, they miss being at home," she said.
"It sucks."
Since Bergen and her husband work, scheduling a visit would have to be on the weekend.
"When are we going to be able to go? Saturday? Sunday? Are they going to be willing to do that for everybody? Cause everyone else has to work too and if they have to take time off, who's going to pay those lost wages?"
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