National Guard helps with air quality testing inside Flat Rock homes after gas leak triggers voluntary evacuations

FLAT ROCK, Mich. – A gas leak from the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant triggered voluntary evacuations of the area and officials have been testing levels of gas in sewers and homes.

Members of the military were in Flat Rock on Tuesday (Sept. 14) to help to test for fumes in the homes that were evacuated. The National Guard 51st Civil Support Team is there assisting the EPA.

The National Guard members will be there for seven days. On its website, the unit defines itself as a weapons of mass destruction civil support team. In this case, the trucks and technology will imbedded with the EPA to test the air quality of homes after the gasoline leak. Ford officials said they believe the leak began on Aug. 26.

Many residents have been out of their homes for more than a week. Jeannie Claiborne did initially evacuate, but then returned home.

Ford said $500 check will be given to residents impacted by the gas leak.

Flat Rock Mayor Mark Hammond said progress is being made. Flat Rock officials said the testing will take weeks to complete.

Read: More Local 4 Defenders coverage

Previous coverage:

• When will evacuated Flat Rock residents be able to return home?
• Crews continue to test air quality after gas leak in Flat Rock prompts evacuations
• Ford Flat Rock gas line installer says leak should have set off alarm
• EPA goes home-to-home in Flat Rock to detect fume levels after gas leak
• Virtual town hall held for Flat Rock residents impacted by gas leak
• Here’s what inspection records say about underground fuel tank leak in Flat Rock
• Residents demand more answers on impact of chemical leak in Flat Rock
• Crews going door-to-door in Flat Rock urging evacuations after chemical spill
• Flat Rock schools set to start classes this week amid gas leak
• Ford Motor Company speaks with Flat Rock residents after chemical leak prompts evacuations, school closure
• Flat Rock investigating ‘unusual odor situation’ near sanitary sewer lift station
• State of emergency in Flat Rock: Odor prompts search for hazardous material in sewer
• ‘It’s our job to protect the residents’ -- Multiple Flat Rock homes evacuated, State of Emergency issued
• ‘Is it safe?’ -- Area of concern grows in Flat Rock after hazardous chemical found in sewer system
• More homes evacuated as officials continue investigating hazardous chemicals found in Flat Rock
• Michigan health department, Wayne County recommend evacuation for areas of Flat Rock due to hazardous fumes from gas leak
• Recommended evacuation area expands after gasoline leak at Flat Rock assembly plant
• Flat Rock gas leak not ‘imminent danger’ to residents, head of Michigan health department says
• ‘Voluntary recommended evacuation’ issued for Flat Rock neighborhood due to gas leak