Iron Bridge Cleanup Starts - Iron Bridge, May 4, 1979

Iron Bridge Cleanup Starts

BY JOANNE THOMPSON Of The Star

IRON BRIDGE - Now begins the monumental task of cleaning up.

As the water from the swollen Mississagi River, which flooded more than 35 homes and left 60 homeless over the weekend, subsided Wednesday, most persons returned to their homes to assess damages.

Flood victims appointed a citizen's committee comprised of Dale Wedgwood, Mel Marshall and Shirley Shackelton at a hastily called meeting Wednesday evening.

This committee, along with Reeve Harvey Eaket accompanied representatives of the ministry of treasury, economics and intergovernmental affairs, (TEIGA) on a visit to many of the hardest hit residences Thursday afternoon.

What they found, at the least, was damage to basements, furnaces and other equipment and loss of several feet of property to owners along the river bank. As the water subsided it took with it sand banks and low-lying grass areas along the river.

At the worst, they found two residences where basement walls had collapsed, causing substantial amounts of structural damage.

The west basement wall of the Marshall residence on Mississagi Cres. collapsed, taking a large section of the first floor.

Mr. Marshall said he had no idea what the cost of repair would be as he took down a for sale sign from the lawn. "No one is going to buy it now -that's for sure," he said.

The basement had been converted to a laundry room and two bedrooms.

Although a basement wall also collapsed at the Dale Wedgwood home, no damage was apparent to the main floor. However, the ground around the house had been undermined by the water.

Albert Wedgwood experienced some of the worst water damage, although his

solid one-story home did not collapse under the pressure.

The water was almost two feet throughout his home and he returned early Thursday to do a preliminary clean up.

He began by taking up carpets and putting them outside in the rain.

Mush of his furniture was moved out last week and the remainder was stored over the rafters in his garage.

Mr. Wedgwood, a retired carpenter, said renovating would be more difficult than building a new home, estimating damage at $25, 000.00

``After things clear up a bit more`` he will begin tearing the walls out and replacing the insulation, wood panelling and wall-board.

A small trailer where Darlene Chevis lives with her three small children was also swamped with several inches of water.

Ms. Chevis returned home Thursday morning and discovered discolored walls, warped woodwork and "sand all over the place."

She and her children are staying with her sister and do not know when they will be able to return home.

"I went in this morning and opened the windows everything smells like oil."

An oil tank, which has become disconnected from the trailer lies on its side on the lawn.

Ms. Chevis does intend to return and begin cleaning up on the weekend, if the hydro electric power has been restored.

She said last Thursday evening she noticed the water was "up to the top of the bank" which is about 30 feet from her back door.

About 6 a.m. Friday, her brother-in-law on his way to work stopped to check and moved her and the children out.

"By that time the water was just beginning to come in on the floor and we needed hip-waders to get out of the yard — the water was so deep", she said.

None of the victims have insurance coverage.

Following the hour or so tour of some of the damaged areas, Lloyd Dupas, TEIGA, said he had a "fair idea of the magnitude of the situation" and would begin his report on his return to Toronto, Friday.

This report will go to the cabinet next week and if Iron Bridge is declared a disaster area the Ontario Disaster Relief Program will be implemented immediately.

Cabinet will decide the level of assistance, although Mr. Dupas said the province normally matches funds raised by the local committee, dollar for dollar.

He added this program which is the only provincial assistance program available, does not offer assistance to municipalities or to residences not in year-round use.

"The municipality is expected to cope with whatever expenditures arise out of this situation," he said.

Mr. Marshall said "this is not the answer that we are looking for. I'm not about to run all over the country begging for money."

Many in Iron Bridge blame the ministry of natural "The municipality is expected to cope with whatever expenditures arise out of this situation," he said.

Mr. Marshall said "this is not the answer that we are looking for. I'm not about to run all over the country begging for money."

Many in Iron Bridge blame the ministry of natural resources (MNR) for two dams that breached on the Little White River a tributary of the Mississagi.

Reeve Harvey Eaket said "if this had been a natural disaster we could live with this program but the MNR is to blame for this."

Gwen Mosher, clerk of the Township of Day and Bright Additional, reported the bridge over Harris Creek near Hwy. 17 had shifted. Several portions of road and a few homes as well as several cottages were damaged due to flooding in Bright Lake. She asked if the dams on the Little White River had been repaired or reinforced since the 1970 threat of a similar flood.

Don Hagar, natural resources manager, Blind River, said he would leave the answer to this question and others "to the minister."

Council and the committee intend to go after the provincial government for 100 per cent assistance and minister James Auld has promised to look into the breaching problem.