THUNDER BAY – Flood Emergencies across Northern Ontario. Emergency Preparedness Week is on in Ontario. For communities across Northern Ontario, it is not a drill. Real emergencies have been declared across the North. Many communities under Flood Warnings or Alerts are under various stages of evacuation planning, or alerts.
Several communities are in the process of evacuating. Others are preparing for possible evacuation.
In Thunder Bay despite the snow and rain over the past several days, there has been no further updates from the Lakehead Regional Conservation Authority.
Flooding Updates
Here is the latest from the Ontario Government:
Town of Moosonee and Moose Factory: Plans are in place to move 100 Moosonee evacuees to Sudbury by air tonight (May 3). About 100 Moosonee residents will be evacuated to Timiskaming Shores Saturday morning, starting at 9 a.m. An EMO Field Officer is being deployed to Timiskaming Shores. The Canadian Red Cross is assisting the municipality and the Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed aircraft for the evacuation.
Kashechewan First Nation: New declaration on May 3 in anticipation of Albany River break-up by May 7. Earlier this week, 240 residents were moved to Kapuskasing after being forced out by water runoff from rapid snow melt that overwhelmed their community’s sewer system. Nearly 40 residences have been damaged and are now without heat and power.
Mattagami First Nation: 67 residents have been taken to Timmins as a precaution because of concerns about flooding that could isolate the community. The main access road is partly under water and there is a risk it could be washed out.
Attawapiskat First Nation: the emergency is still in place and damage and public health assessments continue as many residences, the local hospital and schools have been impacted by sewer back up. No large-scale evacuation is planned but it could still be contemplated as approximately 140 residents have had their homes contaminated.
Fort Albany First Nation: an equipment failure in the community’s water treatment plan has compromised the ability to provide drinking water to many residents.
Alternative services are being put in place and local leaders have declared an emergency as a result. Repairs are expected to be completed shortly and no evacuations are anticipated.
Constance Lake First Nation: Declared an emergency due to rapid snow melt coupled with extensive rain fall causing manholes to fill up and the pumping system and lift station cannot keep up. There have been reports of basements flooding causing extensive damage to homes.
City of Temiskaming Shores: Declared emergency May 3 in anticipation of being a host community for evacuees.
