'It is far worse than I thought': N.W.T. communities down river brace for flooding

After seeing the impact of flooding in Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River, N.W.T,the next communities along the Mackenzie River are preparing for a flood year like no other.

Last fall, the river froze with unprecedented high water levels, which is nowmaking for a very unpredictable breakup. Half of Fort Simpson was partly under water and hundreds of residents had to be evacuated. Meanwhile, Jean Marie River, a community of about 100 people,was practically abandoned over the weekend as houses filled with water.

The school and buildings will need major repairs. The smell of fuel still lingers in the air after the powerful flood water and ice blocks uprooted fuel tanks over the weekend.

WATCH | A view of the flooding in N.W.T. from above:

Aerial views of Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River after flooding forces evacuations

3 years ago

Duration 3:23

Floods, caused by spring river break-up on the Liard and Mackenzie Rivers, have forced residents of the N.W.T. communities of Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River to evacuate. CBC's Eden Maury surveyed both communities from the air on May 10.

Now, communities downstream are readying themselves for what could come.

Mayor Frank Pope in Norman Wells, N.W.T., said the amount of flooding took most by surprise.

"It is far worse than I thought it could ever be," Pope said.

Though the community does not usually flood, the mayor says they are ready to act as anevacuation site for others.

"The Heritage Hotel has told us they will make 20 rooms available in case of emergencies for people who may have to come here and we're looking at getting cots set up in our community hall for families and people who may need other assistance," he said."So we're ready to accommodate people from other communities."

Norman Wells currently has eightelders who were evacuated from Fort Simpson in its elders' centre.

"I feel so badly for the people in Hay River, Jean Marie and Fort Simpson and I hope that's the end of the bad stuff and things will recede and they can get back to normal," Pope said. He acknowledgedthere's alot of work ahead of them before that.

Pope said the town currently has space for at least 100 people, but that number could growonce the community hall is set up and, "if we had to, the school gym."

Further north, Fort McPherson, N.W.T., has started preparing for flooding by first reviewing its emergency response plans.

Senior Administrative OfficerGary McBride said COVID-19 protocolsissued by the chief public health officer may slightly alter those plans.

McBride said the community hall and school gym would be turned into evacuation shelters if the hamlet was to flood, but it wouldn't affect the whole community

"The only concerns we would have are the people at the lower levels and then there's a number of homes and camps out by the ferry crossing and these would be at risk as well."

'More and more unpredictable'

The flooding of Jean Marie River and Fort Simpson also shocked Tim Tomezynski, Tulita's fire chief.

"We've been notified that the water levels are high and we can see that here as well, but we did not expect to see the results the absolute horrific results that have happened since breakup and the flooding began. It was a total surprise,"Tomezynski said.

"Since my time here, this has been the worst that I have heard of."

He said after watching what happened in Jean Marie River, they have organized with a company to empty gas tanks at the lower level of the hamlet if the water rises to a certain point. They have also set up markers to know when to alert residents to start preparing for an evacuation and when they need to leave.

But with all these measures in place, there is still so much uncertainty about what will actually happen.

"It's really hard to gauge this year because the river is acting different, the ice is acting different. It's not like the years past," said Tomezynski, adding the seasons are getting "more and more unpredictable."

Tomezynski said they have people monitoring the river at all times and residents who are at their cabins above and below Tulita are also keeping an eye on things. So far, the Mackenzie hasrisen about eight feet and there was a bit of cracking ice, but nothing too concerning.

"What we're very worried about is if the Bear River breaks. That's when something could happen where the water could rush up if the ice gets blocked and jammed where the Bear River meets the Mackenzie. That's where we'll get some higher water and it could rise at a very rapid rate."

If the town was to flood, Tomezynski said only the residents living on the lower road would be affected. The school gym would be opened as an evacuation centre and he is encouraging people to stay with other families members.

"We're really trying to pre-plan and be as prepared as we can because we know how fast it can happen [and the] devastation has really made our resolve even higher."

The minister of municipal and community affairs will be meeting with communities in the Sahtu and Mackenzie Delta regions Wednesday afternoon to check in on flood response preparations and see if they have enough support from the territorial government.

Tomezynski hopes this will give communities the opportunity to, not only share information on what approaches have been working and what have not, but also be there to support each other.