AmateurRadio.com

The Chemical Spill  yesterday still continues to plaque us here in Kanawha Valley. Some fresh water has arrived but there’s still not enough for everyone. A few of our neighbors have simply “left” their homes and will stay with friends or relatives until city water is again deemed safe for human use. We were not able to find water today although we went to three different places which were broadcast on the local radio station.

The remaining quantity of the 30,000 gallon leaking tank has been moved to a safe location and the soil around the tank is being trucked to another location. Best estimates of the quantity of the leakage have been placed at around 5,000 gallons.

“Up to 300,000 West Virginia residents were told not to drink tap water on Friday after a chemical spill called its safety into question, and health officials said water in the affected area should only be used for flushing toilets and fighting fires.”

The N8ZYA households biggest concern is water for our pets and our personal hygiene. The concentrations of the chemical in the water supply is still much to high to risk drinking, bathing, or even washing dishes. This chemical has been erroneously picked up and pumped into nine different counties. All schools and day care centers are closed and all restaurants are closed. The economic consequences of this disaster will be enormous.

I’ve not heard any calls for communications from the Ham radio community but I have everything prepared should the call go out.

My neighbor invited us, and about a dozen friends, to dinner this evening. We had soup, which was made before the chemical leak, along with a salad, and lots of wine. We gave an elderly lady on our street a couple bottles of our water.

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