State of Emergency declared in Wawa (photo, 10:45 a.m. update)
Friday, October 26, 2012 by: SooToday.com Staff
OPP NEWS RELEASE
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State of emergency in Wawa - 10:45 a.m. update
WAWA - The Ontario Provincial Police Superior East Wawa Detachment advise that Highway 17 at Wawa continues to be closed both north bound and south bound.
The highway has been closed as a result of high levels of water has caused the road to erode away.
Currently the Municipality of Wawa has declared a state of emergency.
At this time the Municipality of Wawa Public Works Department and Michipicoten First Nation Infrastructure Department are jointly working to reopen the road into the First Nation.
Tremblay Flats road is passable but is recommended for emergencies only.
Again Highway 101 just east of Wawa is open.
OPP advise motorists to drive with caution for the first 10 kilometres when leaving Wawa.
911 services in Dubreuilville and Michipicoten First Nation are not currently available.
Bell Canada is aware of this and is currently working to resolve the problems as quickly as possible.
Several 911 distress calls were received from residents in the Harbour on Lake Superior.
OPP with the assistance of Wilderness Helicopters are working to access these locations.
One family has been removed via helicopter and OPP have returned to the area to locate a second resident.
OPP urge the public to remain off the roadways unless absolutely necessary.
An updated media release will be sent out when more details are known.
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High volume of water results in highway closures
WAWA - The Ontario Provincial Police Superior East Wawa Detachment advise that Highway 17 at Wawa continues to be closed both north bound and south bound.
The highway has been closed as a result of high levels of water has caused the road to erode away.
Currently the Municipality of Wawa has declared a state of emergency.
Highway 101 just east of Wawa is now open.
OPP advise motorists to drive with caution for the first 10 kilometres when leaving Wawa.
Residents on Michipicoten First Nation and Long Beach Road are currently unable to leave those areas due to road erosion in multiple places.
The Wawa Municipal Public Works Department is currently on scene and working to make the road passable for emergency purposes.
OPP urge the public to remain off the roadways unless absolutely necessary.
An updated media release will be sent out when more details are known.
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Editor's Note: Photo by Vanessa Moynihan
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Mike99 10/26/2012 9:42:51 AM ReportThey should call Sault search & Rescue to help out like they do in goulais during floods. The more trained help the better.
donsdeerden 10/26/2012 11:37:52 AM ReportThat is going to require a lot of gravel to fill those washouts.Amazing to see the hydro poles still upright.Where is this located?
steelworker 10/26/2012 11:44:56 AM ReportI think that is the Ford dealership north of Wawa near Catfish Creek. Northernlights Ford possibly.
JUSTANOTHERNAME 10/26/2012 11:48:13 AM ReportSteelworker you are correct it is Northern Lights Ford. I seen pictures of the Motel next door and it was badly underminded, some reports are saying it caved in now.
Brianne 10/26/2012 11:49:05 AM ReportWOW ! Hope everyone is ok , a motel ( northern lights motel got washed out too, right down the middle of it !
acruise 10/26/2012 11:57:40 AM ReportAnyone have information on the state of the Hwy 17 South of Wawa, for travellers from Sault Ste Marie to Wawa?
guzzman 10/26/2012 12:07:44 PM ReportHey Guys!OPP has a Emergency roadblock here in Batchawana Bay 17 north/563 to northbound traffic and is only open to us Locals.They say can only go north as far as Old Woman's Bay.Keep you posted! The Guzzman
Maple2111 10/26/2012 5:27:46 PM ReportThe Northern Lights Motel got hit very hard.As did the Ford Dealership next door.
Very hard to see this as it was my family that built the Motel.
All I can say is Thank God no one in Wawa is hurt.
Things can be replaced People can`t.
Working Man 10/26/2012 6:22:15 PM ReportHmm... Interesting...
How much rain did they get?????
What construction company is responsible for this?
Maple2111 10/26/2012 6:39:10 PM ReportRain fall 133 mm
No contractor
Built by My Family in the 60`s
Working Man 10/26/2012 7:38:05 PM ReportHmm, that's crazy that all that rain would wash out that much gravel causing the diplayed vehicles to crumble down 10 feet below the ground. Especially being there for 50 years.
right wing 10/26/2012 7:54:12 PM ReportShe's called mother nature and that is nothing compared to what she does in some parts of the world.
Working Man 10/26/2012 9:36:04 PM Reportright wing,
What a *****!!!! I guess you can't blame it on shoddy workmanship then huh???
So, I guess it's god's fault. Hmm... Well i'm sorry you resort to blaming 'god' for that matter and other matters in other parts of this planet without thinking that maybe it could be you, or another contractor that was involved in this particular incident that 'could perhaps' be blamed for it...
But no, it's automatically 'gods' fault right?
It's called 'taking responsibility' which most people do not want to do nowadays. Eg. It's gods fault that 'you're' an alcoholic, it's gods fault that you conceived a 'bastard', it's gods fault that you're a junkie, it's god's fault that you're lazy, etc...
Grow up. Do you ever think that maybe it's 'you' that's the problem instead of blaming another entity for all your problems???
I don't mean to drop a bomb on you, this is for everybody who feels that way.
jojo12345 10/26/2012 10:09:11 PM Reportreally sad to see all this...i was in wawa for over 40 years did my childhood there....maybe something more than the rain happen there but the town is keeping quiet not to scare no one
mudrunner 10/27/2012 10:06:34 PM ReportLOL working man I never seen him say anything about God, I love how people just assume things like that.
Love how mother nature works, water is a powerful thing when its moving.
Sweet Gal 10/28/2012 2:19:47 AM ReportReally sad to see people get all mad over something that happened that u can not change. Its terrible that it happened but why does blame have to put on someone? Like really... Can't shit just happen in life. We deal with it and move on. We should all just be happy no one was hurt and just all support Wawa to repair the damage and hope it doesn't happen again. Guess some people just feel the need to put blame on people. Guess the forces of nature could never do no wrong apparently. Hurricans are our faults for apparently not building our houses strong enough to take them. Like really give ur head a shake. Things happen and not always is a person to blame.
cityhallguy 10/29/2012 8:09:37 AM ReportSome people (on this site) just want to lay blame and nothing else!!! I guess you might call it a hobby, or passtime?
Hindsite is always 20/20! And it doesn't do anything except creat hard feelings! Would love to hear the comments if we ever got an earthquake or tornado, etc... Who would we blame then eh?!?
I agree that mother nature can be cruel and that we should make things safe and move on!
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
