GREENSTONE – UPDATED – Union Gas service should be restored during the night. Their staff will be working through the night going door to door but they must access your home to get your gas lines flushed before re-igniting your furnaces.
They’ve asked that those who are staying home leave a light on at your front porch and some sort of indicator (ie bright cloth tied to your door knob) to indicate that you are home in order to avoid having them trying to wake up residents who aren’t home.
If you must leave, leave your keys with someone and leave a note on your door with the number of the person who has your keys and is willing to run right over to your house to let them in.
Hundreds of homes in Greenstone are without heat. The situation has impacted Longlac, Long Lake #58 First Nation, and Ginoogaming First Nation.
Updated by Union Gas at 19:15EST
The situation has led to a state of emergency in the Greenstone area. Cold temperatures are causing problems for local residents and officials have evacuated impacted residents.
Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle states, “My thoughts are certainly with all residents of Longlac, Ginoogaming and Long Lake #58 First Nations who are currently experiencing a loss of gas pressure which has resulted in many hundreds of homes left without heat. Public safety is always our top priority. Certainly, our government is actively monitoring the situation through the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management”.
“I understand that the situation is presently being handled by Union Gas and the Community of Greenstone to ensure heat is restored as quickly as possible,” added Minister Gravelle.
“Warming centres have been established at the Geraldton High School, with transportation being provided for affected residents. I have recently spoken with Mayor Beaulieu, who continues to work tirelessly ensuring that all residents have up-to-date information as soon as it becomes available. Union Gas teams have been dispatched and continue their work to bring the natural gas back online. Certainly, we Northerners are incredibly compassionate and resilient people and I know that these communities will pull together and support one another as we all work to resolve this situation.”
Union Gas states, “Our natural gas station serving Longlac has lost pressure due to weather. Gas service to customers in area is affected. Our crews are working on the situation. Top priority is to restore service as quickly as possible”.
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Weather Update for Longlac and Area
Extreme wind chill values tonight and Friday morning.
An Arctic high pressure system is expected to move into the area tonight. Relatively clear skies and light winds will result in temperatures dropping down to the minus thirties tonight and early Friday morning, with temperatures in the minus thirties, wind chill values will bottom out in the minus forty to minus fifty range even with light winds of only 5 to 10 km/h.
At these extreme wind chill values frostbite may occur on exposed skin in less than 10 minutes.
Wind chills will improve Friday as the temperature rises under the strengthening late February sun.
