Woodingford Flood Update

Monday, 13 January 2014 at 12:22

Damage is extensive at Tillsonburg's Woodingford Lodge after a water valve burst Saturday morning.

For some Tillsonburg Woodingford residents it could be a few weeks, for others, it may be months before they can get back in.

Damage is extensive to half of the County's long term care facility after a water valve burst on Saturday.

The heaviest of the damage occurred where the 1 1/2-inch pipe (in photo) gave way on the Cedar Crescent side of the facility. Walls, ceilings, furniture, and electrical systems including the nurse-call systems were damaged. The County is looking at a significant rebuild that could take months to complete.

On the Rosewood side of the building, damage wasn't as bad, and residents could be able to return in a few weeks.

The 32 residents were evacuated to the County's other Woodingford facilities in Ingersoll and Woodstock, along with Maple Manor care home, and Tillsonburg Hospital early Saturday morning. It was an evacuation effort that included not only Woodingford staff, but County Public Works crews, Oxford EMS, the Tillsonburg Fire Department, Woodstock Transit and local transportation companies.

County CAO Peter Crockett says he's proud of the timely response and residents needs are being taken care of, but the situation is still unsettled, "The residents that are in our two Woodingford facilities are in common areas that we've had to adjust and make into almost like a ward type scenario. It's not suitable for a long term arrangement."

Crockett says the County is talking with local hospitals about possibly taking in some of those displaced residents.

Employees of the Tillsonburg Woodingford are still working, and providing care for those residents. "They're out at the locations, where the residents are. That's a huge plus for the residents. They're safe, they're cared for and quite frankly, they're glad to see a familiar face."

There's no dollar figure yet on the flood damage, and Crockett says they're not sure if the valve failure was weather related or not.

(Photo: A look down one of the heavily damaged hallways at Woodingford Lodge in Tillsonburg)

Woodingford Ceiling