Wheatley and residents displaced by explosion to get $3.8M million more from Ontario

Wheatley and its residents displaced by last summer's explosion will receive an additional $3.8 million in Ontario funding.

Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickfordmade the announcement on Wednesday. The funding will go toward the municipality,as well as to families displaced from their homes following the Aug. 26 blast.

"This funding will help evacuated residents with their immediate needs," Rickford said from theChatham-Kent Fire Station 20.

Themoneyavailable will be based on the size of the family for those who have had "extraordinary" costsassociated with being out of their homes.There will also be needs-based funding to cover emergency shelter.

Payments are expected to start flowing from the province later this month, and the deadline to apply for funding is Jan. 31.

It's been nearly three months since an explosion believed to be related to hydrogen sulphide a toxic, flammablegasdestroyed two buildings and injured several people in Wheatley.The incident has prompted concern about the thousandsof abanoned gas wells in Ontario.

The source of the gas has not yet been determined, though three areas of interest have been identified in the investigation, officials said.

The blast displaced more than 100residents. Those in the evacuation zone remainunable to return totheir homes and businesses. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said it will start allowing people to entertheir properties on an appointment basisthis week.

WATCH: Here's how the funding will help Wheatley

Here's how Ontario's funding will help Wheatley, Ont. residents

3 years ago

Duration 0:52

Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire, explains how these new funds can be accessed and utilized by people in Wheatley, Ont.

Work continues in the area where the explosion occurred, the municipality said Tuesday, adding that structural engineers are assessing the damage to adjacent buildings.

The province previously committed $2 million to Wheatley, funding that focused on assisting businesses.

More from CBC Windsor