Our city is set to receive 180 evacuees from Bearskin Lake.
It comes after the First Nation declared a state of emergency on Sunday due to an ice jam along the Severn River causing water to cover up main roadways including those to the airport. The Ministry of Natural Resources is airlifting residents by helicopter to the local airport.
The evacuees are set to get to Thunder Bay over the next two days. Sioux Lookout is also serving as a host community, receiving up to 175 evacuees as early as today.
“Thunder Bay’s Emergency Operations Control Group is very experienced in dealing with these types of emergencies,” said Mayor Bill Mauro. “Our decision to be a host community is based on confirmation that at this time we have the necessary resources to meet the needs of our community and the evacuees.”
Bearskin Lake First Nation is a fly-in community located approximately 425 km north of Sioux Lookout and has a population of approximately 460.
The local coordinating team including the City of Thunder Bay, Police, Fire & Rescue, Superior North EMS, Emergency Management Ontario and Canadian Red Cross, will continue to meet to make necessary arrangements.
