It appears to be less of a likelihood that Kapuskasing will be hosting evacuees from the James Bay coast due to flooding. Town Council learned during Monday’s meeting that the ice breakup on the Albany River is going well and the water levels are low. The flood risk around Kashechewan has been reduced from moderate-high to low-moderate. Town Administrator Guylain Baril says right now they won’t be hosting anyone from Kashechewan.
“We should remain alert and we could get a request to be a host community at any time, for another flood or a forest fire” he said. “It’s not like we are done with the evacuation season, and it usually lasts until the end of August.”
Baril says they need to be better prepared for future requests.
“The next time we may not as much time to respond to the request,” he said. “I don’t know what we have to do as a town council or a community to be prepared.”
Town council suggested that in the future they put a cap on the number of evacuees they host something that was recently done in Hearst.
