THUNDER BAY - Evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation have arrived in Thunder Bay as the risk of flooding in the community continues to rise.
Due to the ice-breaking up on James Bay, a state of emergency was declared in Kashechewan. With the risk of flooding imminent, precautionary evacuations began on Sunday.
The city of Thunder Bay Emergency Operations Control Group met yesterday and decided to host evacuees from the northern community.
“We are only expecting one flight,” said Greg Hankkio, deputy fire chief with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue. “The control group will monitor the situation in cooperation with the provincial emergency operation centre. If we have further request to host, we will bring it back to the control group and give it consideration at that time.”
On Monday afternoon, 50 evacuees landed at the Thunder Bay International Airport. Other communities, including Kapuskasing, Wawa, and Smooth Rock Falls have already accepted more than 300 evacuees.
Thunder Bay has taken in evacuees in the past and Hankkio said the city is happy to lend a hand to neighboring communities in need.
“This is a precautionary evacuation for them,” he said. “As in years past, we are more than willing to step up and serve as a host community. We’ve done it in the past and we are pretty good at it and it’s a cooperative effort from a whole bunch of different agencies within the city.”
The evacuees were transported to a hotel in the city, which Hankkio said will serve as their home while they are away from their community.
“Our intent is to make their stay as welcome and comfortable as possible while they are here with us,” he said.
Hankkio said he does not know how long the evacuees will be away from their community. Ministry of Natural Resources officials will continue to monitor the flooding situation in Kashechewan to determine when it is safe to return.
“When they are given clearance to go back, when the conditions are good, then we will reverse the process and get them back to their community,” Hankkio said.
On Mar. 31, 2017, an agreement was signed between Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the provincial and federal governments to look into possibly relocating the Kashechewan community, which is plagued by flooding nearly every spring.
