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Neighbours pitch in to help Alvinston clean up

July 21, 2023

Alvinston had some help from its neighbours as the clean up after Thursday’s storm continued.

A strong line of storms brought down dozens of trees in the Brooke-Alvinston community. At one point, nearly every street had a tree lying on it. Power to the entire community has been out since the storm went through Thursday around 4:30 pm.

Bluewater Power crews who face “traumatic” damage to the infrastructure, according to the head of the company, are getting help from Entegrus workers from Chatham-Kent as they work to restore power. Officials say about 425 homes and businesses are without electricity. Some may see service return late tonight, others by Saturday.

Bluewater Power workers repair lines on Walnut Street. Power may return late Friday night or Saturday after what the utility says was “traumatic” damage to the infrastructure in the community.

And municipal friends also showed up to help. Administrator Janet Denkers says municipalities across Lambton offered to send help to Alvinston to clear away the fallen trees. St. Clair Township, Plympton-Wyoming and the County of Lambton all brought their wood chippers to town so residents could get rid of the brush.

Brooke-Alvinston employees and residents were hauling downed trees to the back of the Oke’s Auto lot Friday so they could be chipped.

Mike Oke offered the back of his car lot off Nauvoo for the wood chipping operation.

Denkers said the municipality is thankful for the help offered and received but adds the clean up will likely stretch into next week.

Meantime, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority also has some clean up on its hands. The AW Campbell Conservation Area was quiet Friday after the authority closed it to transient campers because of the storm damage.

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