Flooding in Jean Marie River has submerged vehicles, destroyed homes and dislodged fuel tanks spreading diesel across the community.

As soon as the water recedes, representatives of the department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) plan to come in and manage the spills.

SA国际影视传媒淚f someone drops a cigarette on the dry ground the whole thing is going to go boom,SA国际影视传媒� Chief Stanley Sanguez said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou can smell fuel all over the place.SA国际影视传媒�

The majority of Dehcho First Nation evacuated to Fort Providence over the weekend and will continue to be lodged in their hotel as needed.

With the fuel spread especially, Sanguez expressed concern for children from Jean Marie River who have respiratory problems. He has repeated that residents should stay in Fort Providence and not worry about coming back.

Sanguez himself, however, has stayed in Jean Marie River with about 10 others.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e just like me,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the residents who chose to stay. SA国际影视传媒淚 love my community, ISA国际影视传媒檓 not going anywhere.SA国际影视传媒�

The residents still in town have been sleeping in their cars, Sanguez said since their homes have lost power for heating.

While the waterline is slowly receding, Saguez said everything downtown is destroyed.

Only five or six houses on higher ground are safe from the flooding, though even those homes have some level of water damage, he said.

Senior Administration Officer Brad Morrissey said an emergency response team would begin assessing needs as soon as it is safe to do so.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now you look around and think you need everything,SA国际影视传媒� he said. But once the team sits down together they can triage SA国际影视传媒渨hatSA国际影视传媒檚 necessary now, whatSA国际影视传媒檚 necessary tomorrow, whatSA国际影视传媒檚 necessary next week.SA国际影视传媒�

Though the focus, he said is first ensuring everyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 safety.

On behalf of the department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), Jay Boast, GNWT Emergency Management Spokesperson said that the Emergency Management Organization (EMO) has been activated for Jean Marie River, as well as for Hay River and Fort Simpson.

While the department is SA国际影视传媒渁ctively engaged and continuing to work with all communities,SA国际影视传媒� Boast said, one of the complications is that SA国际影视传媒渋t needs to be safe to have someone go and assess the damage in the communities.SA国际影视传媒�

Once that work can be done safely, Boast assured the department would support the process of mitigating contamination and addressing necessary repairs.

SA国际影视传媒淎s this is an active situation and the water levels are still rising in many areas, it is difficult to speak to exact timelines right now.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition to footing the bill for residents of Jean Marie RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 stay in Fort Providence, Boast said MACA will be looking into applying for the disaster financial assistance policy SA国际影视传媒� a fund to partially compensate community governments for restoring property to its pre-disaster conditions.

The amount assistance for each accepted claim is 80 per cent of the total cost up to $100,000.

More on the disaster assistance policy can be .

Considering the damage, Sanguez said it could take the whole summer to repair damages and SA国际影视传媒渟ee what we can get fixed up.SA国际影视传媒�

He said the community is worried about their Fort Simpson neighbours who, along with the Town of Hay River, have been declared a state of local emergency.

Boast confirmed that Fort Simpson evacuations to Fort Smith are ongoing.

He further stated that Vale Island evacuees are being accommodated within Hay River and that KatlSA国际影视传媒檕deeche First Nation (KFN) has also evacuated residents from flood risk and relocated them to the wellness centre.

He said there is no report of residential damage in KFN or Hay River to date but that community flood watch remains in place.