Timmins prepares to welcome 400 evacuees from Kashechewan
Residents of Kashechewan First Nation will be evacuated to Timmins next week. This is a precautionary decision due to flooding on the Albany River.
The Stronger Together organizing committee met in Timmins on Friday to finalize logistics. Timmins Fire Chief Berny Stansa said he expects flights for the community to begin arriving in Timmins on Tuesday.
"Initially we had 250, it went up to 488 now we’re down to 400 (evacuees)," said Stansa.
"We’re just taking the most vulnerable first. We’re looking at two flights a day for four days to start off with somewhere around 40 people per flight," he said.
Stansa said that the City of Timmins has declared a 'State of Emergency' to allow for the quick mobilization of municipal support and personnel. The Ramada Inn and Microtel are hosting the evacuees.
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City officials said the public needs to watch for increased pedestrian traffic in those areas.
The city will work in conjunction with Stronger Together is working with the Provincial Emergency Response Organization (PEOC), Indigenous Service Canada (ISC), Kashechewan leadership, along with community partners and service agencies, to ensure residents of Kashechewan have the support and resources they need while in Timmins.
Ramada maintenance employee Lance Mills and Stronger Together team lead Ryan Verreault stoke the fire in the teepee at the Ramada as it gets ready to welcome residents of Kashechewan. (Supplied/City of Timmins)
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