THUNDER BAY – KASHECHEWAN – Potential flood conditions as fears that the ice in the Albany River will flood the First Nation community of Kashechewan have community members manning and monitoring dikes in the community. As of 3AM, “The water and ice is still moving at the dikes and came up about 6 feet. The water is also coming up between the mainland and Sinclair Island.
The continuing state of emergency in Ontario’s north, in the First Nation community of Kashechewan has brought in the Ontario government. Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle states, “As a result of recent conditions on the Albany river the leadership of the First Nations of Kashechewan and Fort Albany have declared a state of emergency and decided to undertake the evacuation of some of their most vulnerable residents. This includes the elderly, women, children and people with medical conditions”.
“Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) have been working with federal, municipal and First Nations partners to organize the evacuation,” added the Minister.
“The first residents being evacuated from Kashechewan will be sent to Kapuskasing where preparations have been made to shelter them in the proper accommodations. It is expected that approximately 65 people will be evacuated tonight on three flights chartered by the MNR”.
“EMO is coordinating provincial support for these precautionary evacuations,” continued Gravelle. “The first priority of everyone involved is the health and safety of the residents of the communities that are impacted by these events,” concluded Michael Gravelle, Minister of Natural Resources.