Several WV counties on total water ban; state of emergency

[__fasterfaster]

UPDATE 1/9/14 @ 7:10 p.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has issued a state of emergency for five counties after a chemical leak in Kanawha County Thursday morning.

The state of emergency includes West Virginia American Water customers in Boone, Lincoln, Kanawha, Jackson and Putnam counties.

West Virginia American

Comments

[tigerdreams]

Wow, that's really awful. I hope they get things cleaned up quickly, and nobody gets seriously ill from this.

I admit, I got about one sentence into this article before I started wondering if there was a deregulation problem at the root of this spill.

[shortsweetcynic]

I admit, I got about one sentence into this article before I started wondering if there was a deregulation problem at the root of this spill.

you and me both.

[skellington1]

Yup. Seems like a pretty safe bet, usually...

[gambitia]

Considering that pretty much every spill I've heard about has deregulation and corner-cutting as a cause, it's a safe bet this one does too.

[omimouse]

Bloody hell, and there were counties just coming off of a boil water advisory due to water mains bursting in the severe cold.

And this is my complete lack of surprise at it being a chemical related to the coal industry.

[pamuya]

charleston resident here -

it took them like 8 hours to spread the news fully, which really makes me angry. no one seemed to know until about 5-6pm, having exposed themselves for the whole day.

there's a video update on wsaz, OP if it will let you embed it
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Firefighters-Investigating-Strong-Smell-in-Kanawha-Valley--239434751.html

[bella_cheval]

Charleston resident here too. My big worry is that we've enough water in storage for our four horses. We have two-40 gallon drums full which will last a couple days but beyond that...and I really doubt the FEMA folks would appreciate us pulling up with 'em just for horse water.

Although husband just read that the state vet's office says the water is ok for horses, I still don't trust the water for them OR the rest of my fur and featherkids.

I would say something about the environmental agencies who are supposed to regulate the industry but I'm paranoid to say anything because I work for one of them and really don't want this to be ferreted out and lose my job.

[shortsweetcynic]

Although husband just read that the state vet's office says the water is ok for horses, I still don't trust the water for them OR the rest of my fur and featherkids.

how...what? how does that even work?

piss off, state vet's office. if i wouldn't/can't drink it, i'm sure as hell not giving it to my animals. :/

[bella_cheval]

Same here!!

[fenris_lorsrai]

For your horses, try calling the fire department on the non emergency line. Explain you have horses that you're worried about having them drink the water. Ask if there's anywhere that the fire department uses as a fire pond not connected to river to load the pump truck from in case of water pressure failure and if you could have the contact info for whoever's property its on. (it may also be town land) Since its already a known fire pond, they should be much more receptive to someone turning up to take a huge amount of water.

Depending on how friendly the fire department is in your area, they might just show up at your doorstep with the pump truck since they probably already had to fill it once!

(we have a designated fire pond on our property. The fire department's only needed to use it once every five years or so)

Affected ONTD_P Members

[omimouse]

Uhm, I'm in Barboursville, and if you don't mind the fact that you'd be entering a really shitty looking house, you can message me via LJ to get the address/phone number to swing by with gallon jugs or whatever to get water.

[bella_cheval]

Thanks! Muchly appreciated :)