KASHECHEWAN FIRST NATION -- A state of emergency has been declared in Kashechewan First Nation after the start of the ice break-up on the James Bay coast.
With a risk of flooding imminent, a precautionary evacuation is scheduled to begin on Sunday, with evacuees initially sent to Kapuskasing, Ont. Additional host communities are at present being confirmed. In the past Thunder Bay has hosted residents of the Northern Ontario community, which faces near annual flood threats.
As of Saturday night there has been no confirmation if Thunder Bay is being considered this time around.
According to a release issued on Saturday, the operation is being co-ordinated by Emergency Management Ontario and the Office of the Fire Marshal, with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and other provincial departments, local First Nations and municipal officials.
Field officers are being deployed on Sunday to Kashechewan and Kapuskasing.
