Tough decisions in oil evacuation area

MARSHALL, Mich. (WOOD) - Joyce and Alan Elyea were planning to leave their home sometime soon. They're trying to sell it.

But Thursday night, it was a visit from the Calhoun County Health Department that had the two packing their bags and leaving their home. It's among the estimated 30 to 50 houses health officials are recommending be vacated because of high levels of benzene following the Marshall oil spill.

Going through her duffel, Joyce Elyea said she has enough outfits for three days. Being away for three days is perhaps her hope, but the reality is, she's not sure when she'll be able to come back to her home.

"I'm just wondering: how long is this going to take?" Joyce Elyea said. "Look at the gulf."

The Elyeas will be staying with family for the time being. They decided it was best to leave for health reasons.

As for that for-sale sign out front?

"Obviously, it's not going to sell," Alan Elyea said. "Not now."

Joyce Elyea pointed out would-be buyers "can't even get down the road to look at the front of the house, much less inside."

Outside their home, you can still smell the oil, depending on the direction of the wind. Signs of the oil -- geese covered in it -- are present not far from their home.

"I just feel like we should have probably gotten out of here Monday and shouldn't have stayed," Joyce Elyea said.

Like their next-door neighbors the Elyeas, John and Mary Ann Pettit said the smell was much worse earlier in the week. Now that it isn't as strong, the Pettits are trying to decide if they'll leave.

"I don't want to go," Mary Ann Pettit told 24 Hour News 8. Her husband John thinks the couple should.

John Pettit was on the Enbridge hotline Thursday evening, trying to figure out if was in the voluntary evacuation area. He was told evacuations were canceled, he said.

"Not five seconds later, knock-knock-knock," John Pettit said. "The health department's at our door" with a water advisory and a notice of evacuation.

"I don't understand how it's so disorganized," Mary Ann Pettit said.

The Pettits said they want to see numbers showing the benzene levels so they can make a more informed decision about whether to leave.

And in case the two do leave, they'd like to know future levels so they can determine when it's safe to come back.