West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has issued a state of
emergency for nine counties after a chemical leak in Kanawha County Thursday
morning.
The state of emergency includes West
Virginia American Water customers in Kanawha, Cabell, Boone, Putnam, Lincoln,
Logan, Clay, Roane and Jackson
West Virginia American Water says
Culloden water customers are the only ones affected by the water ban. No other Cabell County
West Virginia American Water says
customers on Queen Shoals PSD, Lincoln PSD, City of Culloden PSD
Logan County 911 Director Marilyn
Triplett Crosby says, "There is only a small area in Logan County affected
by the water issue also....just a few communities that border Boone County and
get their water from Boone County. They are Sharples, Clothier, Coal Valley
WVAW customers are told not to use tap
water for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing. You can use the water for
toilets and fire emergencies. Boiling water will not get rid of the chemical.
This is believed to impact 100,000
customers.
West Virginia DHHR says symptoms include: severe burning in
throat, severe eye irritation, non-stop vomiting, trouble breathing or severe
skin irritation such as skin blistering.
Homeland Security says if you feel
sick, seek medical attention at a local hospital or call poison control hotline
at 1-800-222-1222. You can also call the Emergency Operations
Center
According to a news release, the leak
happened at Freedom Industries in Charleston
The chemical is believed to have leaked
into the Elk River .
West Virginia American Water believes
the material is hazardous, but is not lethal in it's current form.
FEMA has been contacted to bring clean
water into the area.
Officials describe the smell as
something similar to liquorice
