State of emergency lifted in Fort Albany First Nation

As the flood waters recede along the James Bay coast, Fort Albany First Nation said this week it was lifting a state-of-emergency that forced an evacuation.

With flood waters receding, Fort Albany First Nation says it is preparing to bring residents who evacuated back home.

A letter posted to the First Nation’s Facebook page on Tuesday said the state of emergency has been lifted.

“We will initiate the process of repatriating community members to Fort Albany,” the letter said.

“The repatriation is scheduled to commence within 24 to 72 hours, pending confirmation by Provincial Emergency Operations Center and Emergency Management Ontario.”

The Cochrane host site will be the first site to be repatriated.

In an update, the Ministry of Natural Resources said that an ice jam that had caused the water level to rise had broken free into James Bay.

“This sudden break resulted in a rapid decrease in water levels with Fort Albany and Kashechewan. The previously flooded causeway that connects Fort Albany to the airport is now clear of water and vehicles can travel back and forth.”

We will provide any information as soon as it is available.

Fort Albany Chief Elizabeth Kataquapit announced the end of the state of emergency Tuesday in a letter to the community.

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“The high water level has decreased in the last 48 hours as confirmed by the Ministry of Natural Resources,” Kataquapit said in her letter.

“As of Tuesday … the chief and council are satisfied that an emergency no longer exists within the vicinity of Fort Albany.”

The MNR is currently projecting a low flood risk for both communities and has ceased daily surveillance flights of the area.