BEARSKIN LAKE FIRST NATION, Ont. - A state of emergency has been declared in a remote First Nation due to a rare case of November flooding.
Bearskin Lake First Nation declared the state of emergency Saturday evening after an ice jam on White Sands Rapids along the Severn River caused water to flood into the community.
According to a band council member in the First Nation located approximately 450 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout, several roads have been washed out, including the road to the airport.
Other roads have also been washed out, stranding nearly half of the 500 people living in the community across Michikan Lake.
“Water is rising quickly from a severe ice jam and several roads are now submerged across the community,” said Bearskin Lake First Nation Chief Rodney McKay in a release. “Community members are cut off from the airport and vital infrastructure including the water treatment plant has been compromised. Without immediate action the ice jam will keep building and the water will keep rising.”
McKay added the First Nation is communicating with the provincial and federal government and have requested a response to clear the ice jam and prepare for possible evacuation.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is expected to come to the community with an explosives expert in the hopes of clearing the ice jam.
Preparations are being made to evacuate isolated members of the community via helicopter.
