The Michigan Department of Health, Wayne County, recommends evacuation of Flat Rock areas due to hazardous fumes due to gas leaks

DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Wayne County Department of Health (WCHD) recommend residents of the Flat Rock area bounded by I-75 to the east, Gibraltar Road to the north, Cahill Road to the West and Woodruff Roads to the south evacuate their homes until further notice due to potential risks from smoke from a gas leak. The source of the leak is a storage tank at Ford Motor Company’s Flat Rock assembly plant.

Response teams will go door-to-door immediately starting Sunday, Sept. 5, in affected areas to ensure residents are informed and receive prompt and accurate evacuation information.

In addition to the smaller geographic area described above, there is a larger area of ​​flat rock investigated for possible exposure. This area is bounded by Gibraltar Road to the north, Sheeks Road to the west, East Huron River Drive to the south and Tamarack Road to the east, as well as buildings along Woodruff between East Huron River Drive and Cahill Road.

Announcements

Read more: The recommended evacuation area is expanded after the gas leak at the Flat Rock assembly plant

“At this time, it is unclear which specific homes could be at risk and residents in some areas of the potentially affected area may not have been exposed. The City of Flat Rock, WCHD, MDHHS, Department of the Environment, Great Michigan Lakes and Energy (EGLE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will continue to work together to understand the potential risks and they will update the community as more information is learned ”, reads in part a statement published by the State on the subject.

The community runs the risk of being exposed to high levels of benzene, considered a total volatile organic compound (VOC), which can be harmful to human health, according to the state. Measurements of air inside buildings and sewer lines have shown VOC levels that exceed sanitary and explosive protection levels, the state added.

Announcements

Benzene is a flammable, colorless liquid with a sweet odor that is used to make other chemicals. It is found in gasoline, crude oil and tobacco smoke. Breathing in higher levels of benzene can cause drowsiness or dizziness, headaches, vomiting, or a fast heart rate. Both long-term and short-term exposure to benzene can increase the risk of cancer, cause blood problems, and damage the immune system.

“We urge Michiganders in the affected areas to take swift action and evacuate their homes,” said Dr Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and deputy chief health officer of MDHHS. “You may not be able to see or smell the fumes that could endanger your health and we recommend that everyone in the affected area consider your location until further notice and we can confirm that it is safe to return home.”

On August 31, MDHHS received a report on a possible release of an unknown chemical into the sewer.

Announcements

Air sampling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified elevated VOC levels throughout the Flat Rock sanitary sewer system. “Partners are working to curb the spread of these chemicals and stop exposure. Continuous monitoring will measure the impact of pollution on sewer lines across the flat rock,” the state added.

HOW TO HELP

If you need help with evacuation or relocation, call the Flat Rock hotline at 734-782-2455 and dial extension 6.

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