KSA国际影视传媒檃tlodeeche First Nation saw some of the worst of spring break-up over the weekend as flooding forced the entire band to evacuate, May, 8.

Chief April Martel said that all KFN are safe and accommodated as of May 9. The community, however, remains on high alert.

SA国际影视传媒淭he wellness centre is being used as a command post and other First Nation residents have been leaving due to the flood warnings. We also have a twenty-four seven team who have been patrolling the flood watch,SA国际影视传媒� Martel said.

She added that elders and large families who reside in the reserve have been relocated to hotels in Hay River and that GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is providing financial support.

As of Monday morning, Martel said the river is moving and the First Nation is planning to relocate residents staying at the wellness centre using buses.

Chief Sunrise Education Centre principal Deborah Reid said the reserveSA国际影视传媒檚 district education authority closed the school for Monday.

SA国际影视传媒淚t only made sense because there were already so many parts of the reserve already on an evacuation order,SA国际影视传媒� Reid said, also noting that buses would have a hard time with transportation.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey have evacuated the old village and lower parts of the Wolf Drive area and even people at wellness centre have been worried because water was coming across the highway,SA国际影视传媒� she said. The concern is they might not be able to get out at the junction and there has been a lot of concern about where the reserve can put people and the extent to which everyone will be able to get out. All around the arbour is being flooded.SA国际影视传媒�

Reid said the school itself is built on high ground and it has its own generator to provide warmth.

The Ehdah Cho Store on the reserve opened late on Sunday so that people could get gas and other supplies as needed, Reid said.

Former Chief Roy Fabian and his wife and grandchildren were among the few who remained on the reserve as of May 9.

He said that he has experienced other floods in the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 history, including the major 1963 flood and this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 experience has conjured up memories and emotions. FabianSA国际影视传媒檚 father and mother at the time assisted elders who needed help during a massive flood and also provided assistance to young people who were out on the land during a spring hunt.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e seen all that stuff relating to floods and I have been been through a couple of them,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou understand the safety issues and in general take precautions. So it is not a big issue.SA国际影视传媒�

Still, Fabian said he is worried about the effects flooding patterns will have on the community, including in the old village.

SA国际影视传媒淗opefully the old village will be okay, but we donSA国际影视传媒檛 know the condition over there because weSA国际影视传媒檙e not allowed to go down there,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪o I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know whether it is flooding or not. We wonSA国际影视传媒檛 know until ice breaks and check old village.SA国际影视传媒�

Fabian said he believes if current weather and climate patterns continue in the future where warmer weather lingers in the autumn and colder weather lasts late into the winter, that it could contribute to continued major flooding events because the ice jam doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 deteriorate as it should.

SA国际影视传媒淲e will have to wait a little while and hope the weather warms up over the next couple of days,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淥nce the ice jam deteriorates and melts and thaws the ice will go out. It is unfortunate that we all got flooded in the whole process. It is a sad time.SA国际影视传媒�