New friendships rise from depths of Hay River evacuation
A Yellowknife home opened its doors to more than a dozen people as evacuees and relatives frantically figured out how to cope with Hay River's flooding.
A Yellowknife home opened its doors to more than a dozen people as evacuees and relatives frantically figured out how to cope with Hay River's flooding.
"When something breaks, it's complicated." Sambaa K'e, in the NWT's Dehcho, is designing a housing action plan. Already, some issues are bigger than expected.
Flood season is normally a problem for the West Point First Nation, but 2022 was "like nothing we've ever seen." Efforts to rebuild are just beginning.
Returning home this week, many of the South Slave's evacuees have one question uppermost in their minds: are the animals all right?
"It's the first time we've seen water downtown." Six or seven homes will need repair work in Fort Liard but the ice has moved on and floodwater is receding.
A set of golden heels that somehow raised more than $2,500 for Fort Simpson is back. The remaining heel has now raised $1,000 and counting for Hay River.
"It was apocalyptic." People could barely comprehend the scale of Wednesday night's flood as they tried to reach safety. Four residents described the scene.
As water rises around Hay River, some residents are finding themselves driving through several feet of water. Government agencies urged them not to if possible.
How many people are affected? What might happen next? Will there be sandbags and berms? Here's a summary from Hay River's Tuesday emergency meeting.
"The message is get off and get off now." Hay River's mayor bluntly ordered remaining residents to abandon Vale Island in the face of "unprecedented" flooding.
Some Vale Islanders chose to leave and are desperately following their homes' fortunes from afar. Others stayed to fight the flood. Either way, it's agonizing.
"Everyone's really worried." Floodwater is becoming a genuine threat in downtown Hay River, where a hotel already housing evacuees may find itself at risk.