The threat of flooding is once again forcing the residents of a remote Northern Ontario First Nation to flee their homes.
Hundreds of vulnerable Kashechewan residents have already registered with the Red Cross in Kapuskasing, Ont. The rising Albany River is threatening to flood the First Nation for the fourth consecutive year.
One of the evacuees, Gary Wesley, told CTV Northern Ontario that he鈥檚 coping with the situation, but it鈥檚 鈥渄ifficult鈥� for others.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e having a hard time. Many of them want to go home,鈥� he said.
Another resident, Peter Lazarus, said the repeated evacuations are 鈥渄evastating.鈥�
鈥淓very year, we have to face this evacuation, and it isn't supposed to be like that," he said.
Nearly every spring, the flood waters from the ice-jammed Albany River destroy homes, schools and businesses in Kashechewan.
Chief Derek Stephen told The Canadian Press that the community spent $21 million on the evacuation last year, and millions more on flood-related repairs. About 350 people still live in Kapuskasing because of last year's flood.
"We cannot continue to live this way," Stephen said, adding it鈥檚 time to move the First Nation to higher ground.
Charlie Angus, the MP for the region, said repeated flooding could result in a 鈥渃atastrophe.鈥�
"This community is so frustrated,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e had an agreement 10 years ago, to build 10 houses a year and to move them on to higher ground.
鈥淢aybe we will escape a catastrophic flood, maybe we won't but we never know, until we are there, and we don't know if that dyke wall will hold."
The office of Bernard Valcourt, the minister of aboriginal affairs and northern development, said the government is working to help the residents of Kashechewan.
Wesley said it will be at least another seven to 10 days before residents learn whether it鈥檚 safe to return to the community. He said people are used to the evacuations and dealing with frustration.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been going through this for how many years now.鈥�
With reports from CTV鈥檚 Peter Akman, CTV Northern Ontario and The Canadian Press
