Ontario First Nation prepares for the worst as water rises on the James Bay coast

(View of the Albany River from the Fort Albany First Nation, 8 kilometres to the south: Courtesy: Fort Albany Flood Watch)

Annette Francis
APTN National News
KAPUSKASING –The Kashechewan First Nation in Ontario is preparing for a Stage one evacuation and some residents could be in the air within a few days.

The Cree community is no stranger to evacuation orders and it seems 2015 will be no different.

This year, the dam that keeps the Albany river at bay is deteriorating and officials are arranging transport and lodging.

That’s why Gerry Demeules is busy 24-7 these days.

The evaucation coordinator for the city of Kapuskasing has just returned from Kashechewan and is wasting no time getting back to work.

After the one hour flight, he’s back on the phone making calls to local motel owners, hoping to secure enough beds for the latest influx of evacuees.

Demeules said the first to be flown out will be the elderly, the sick and young children.

“Our community is pretty well one of the biggest communities in the north when it comes to providing good hospital care,” said Demeules. “So thats why we stepped up to be a stage one centre.”

Demeules is no stranger to this type of evacuation preparedness.

Since 2006, the City of Kapuskasing, 320 kilometres west of Kashechewan, has been host to evacuees in their time of need.

“So from there we’ve learned a lot from our mistakes,” Demeules told APTN National News. “And we’re to the point now where we’re basically the first phone call from the province.”

Can’t go home

Kapuskasing is currently playing host to 400 evacuees from Kashechewan who have not been able to return home after last year’s flood.

Desmeule said the city has plans to help once again and this year, a new plan is in place.

Based on the city’s coordination experience, he said Kapuskasing will act as the hub. Then evacuees will be flown to other communities that are willing to act as host communities.

Demeules said the other northern communities that are on board this year are Hearst, Smooth Rock Falls and Constance Lake First Nation.

“We’re looking at about 800 people that we can house within a couple hours of each other,” said Demueles.

It would mean families and friends can visit and relieve some of the stress he said.

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Annette Francis is in Kapuskasing and is travelling to Kashechewan later this week. She will continue to file stories as the situation develops