Hay River expects highway to Vale Island to be underwater soon, remaining residents advised to leave

The town of Hay River, N.W.T. is expecting the highway that connects with Vale Island to be underwater soon and is telling any residents in that area to leave.  

Kátł'odeeche First Nation members living in the Old Village, Lower Village and Wolf Drive Area are also being told to head for higher ground as flood waters approach. 

Chief April Martel said on Sunday there is water and ice everywhere in the community.

"The complex is supposed to be our safe ground. There's water all the way up to the complex," she said.  

Anyone leaving is asked to register at the Dene Wellness Centre. 

All the Elders have been evacuated, but Martel said she is advising all members of Kátł'odeeche First Nation to pack a bag with all the essentials, as the entire community may need to leave.

There is only one road out of the reserve and Martel said the community will need to leave before the water can cut it off. 

 "As soon as I see water in certain areas around the community, everyone has to leave," she said.

Members will be alerted by a siren it is time to leave.

Martel said this is the highest she's ever seen the water rise and has been speaking with Elders about previous floods that have hit the community.  

"They said the 1960 flood was really bad, but that was way back in Old Village Road. So this is a little different. We haven't seen the water come this far," she said. 

Glenn Smith, Hay River's SAO, said he's never seen the water so high on the riverbank in the community's downtown.

"Things have been pretty bad here," he said. 

On Saturday an evacuation order was issued for Vale Island and the West Channel.