NWT Emergency Response Update - August 24, 2023 4:30 PM

Public Safety Bulletin

Residents and evacuees can call 811 in the territory and 1-844-259-1793 out of territory to ask questions about evacuation

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Current Status


Territorial State of Emergency


The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has declared a Territorial State of Emergency.

This allows the GNWT to acquire and deploy the necessary resources to support emergency management and protect the health and safety of Northwest Territories residents. 

This measure has ensured that the Emergency Management Organization (EMO) is better equipped to support the GNWT, community governments, and public agencies involved in emergency management plans and programs under the Emergency Management Act.

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Jean Marie River evacuation order lifted

The community remains on evacuation alert.


Residents of Jean Marie River can return to the community beginning today. Residents should know that the fire is not out, but the areas closest to the community have been suppressed, and the north perimeter is secure. The fire will continue to show some activity within the middle of the burn (along the road), and the south end, but swamps and marshes surround the east and south sides.

Please drive carefully as crews are working on the fire, and equipment is stationed on the side of the access road. Also, the area will stay busy for a while as we will continue bucketing the fire with a helicopter.  The crews will continue to mop up this fire, and values protection on cabins will remain for now.

The weather will be hot, dry, and windy over the next few days. The community needs to be ready to evacuate again if the fire picks up and breaches ECC control lines. They will be monitoring this fire very closely.

Residents should continue to be prepared to leave. Have your vehicles fueled up and your personal belongings ready.

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Do not return to evacuated communities


Please don't return to evacuated communities; it is not safe to return. We know being away from home is stressful and frustrating, but the safety of Northwest Territories residents is our number one priority. By attempting to return to an evacuated area, you put yourself and firefighters at risk while negatively impacting firefighting efforts.

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Evacuation Flights from Yellowknife


An updated evacuation flight schedule is available here: https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/public-safety/transportation-and-evacuating-safely

Registration hours for evacuation flights are changing. From now on, Sir John Franklin High School will be open for flight registration three (3) hours before the scheduled flight departure time. Passengers will be bussed to the airport from the school to board their flight.

First responders who have pre-arranged transportation may proceed directly to the Yellowknife Airport for curbside check-in. If you are an essential service worker, proceed to the airport for curbside check-in only if you can be dropped off. There is no long-term parking available on-site.

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Update on Alberta evacuation centres


Some residents who are staying in accommodations provided by Alberta Registration Centres may be asked to relocate or change hotels. We understand that being asked to check out of a hotel you have settled into as an evacuee is frustrating. However, some hotels have existing bookings that must be honoured, resulting in the need for evacuees to seek different accommodations. If this has happened to you, please check in with an evacuation centre that has the capacity to support evacuees in order to get assistance finding different accommodations.

If you have been paying for your accommodations and can no longer do so, please go to an evacuation centre that has the capacity to support evacuees for assistance in finding accommodations. Refunds for previous accommodations will not be provided, but alternate accommodations can be arranged.

A list of Alberta evacuation centres that have capacity for new evacuees can be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/northwest-territories-wildfire-evacuation

Wildfire Status

Follow NWT Fire for updates on wildfire:

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Highways and Airports


The Highway Conditions Map and Highway Conditions Webpage remains the most up-to-date source for NWT highway status.

Checkstops

There are currently staffed checkstops at:

  • the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 2

  • Highway 3 at km 272 – between Behchoko and Yellowknife

Highway 3 remains open to all southbound traffic as long as it is safe to do so.

Anyone approaching a staffed checkstop will be asked for identification. If they are not identified as essential workers for the firefighting effort and emergency response in those communities, they will not be allowed to pass through the checkstop. 

Residents of Fort Resolution who approach the checkstop at the junction of Highway 1 and 2 asking to travel back to the community are being asked for identification showing a home address in Fort Resolution. If they have that identification, they are allowed past the checkstop to return to that community.

Please follow the instructions of staff at the checkstops. They have an important job to do to keep our communities and residents safe. Those who refuse to follow their instructions will be immediately reported to the RCMP.

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Health Services Updates


With evacuations and impacts from wildfires in the NWT, access to care and services will be a bit different than normal. If you are outside of the NWT and have lost or are missing your NWT health care card, more information can be found by clicking here.

You can also call NWT 811 for both health information and general information on evacuation supports. In the NWT dial 811, outside the NWT dial 1-844-259-1793.

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Income Assistance


If you are an Income Assistance recipient and have been evacuated, you do not need to reapply for Income Assistance for September 2023. This payment will be automatically made to you.

If you are an Income Assistance client from a community that has evacuated, any income and/or donations received through Indigenous Governments, family, friends or other organizations during the evacuation period will be exempted and not counted in your next assessment. 

For more information visit: Financial Support and Donating

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Justice

Update on court proceedings

All Territorial Court and Supreme Court proceedings in all communities scheduled from August 16, 2023 and up to and including September 8, 2023 have been cancelled.  Please consult the NWT Courts Website for more information.

Update on how to contact persons in correctional centres. 


Friends and families can communicate with youth and inmates while they are evacuated in the Yukon or Alberta. For information on how to contact youth or inmates in the Yukon, please visit the Whitehorse Correctional Centre’s webpage. To contact inmates in Alberta, please go to Alberta’s Correctional Services webpage.

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Industry, Tourism, & Investment

Groceries and other goods in communities

Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and surrounding areas are currently evacuated. This is impacting communities in the NWT who use the larger centres for groceries and other goods. The GNWT is currently engaging with distributors. If your community is experiencing supply concerns, please contact your local distributor. 

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Donations


Monetary donations are being accepted by United Way NWT.

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Be Ready for Wildfires

Get your Emergency Kit and essentials packed and ready. 

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More Information

Evacuee Registration Portal

The Evacuee Registration Portal is for NWT residents who need to evacuate—or be prepared to evacuate—due to an emergency or disaster. All residents who have been evacuated are asked to register themselves in the portal, even if you have also registered at an evacuation centre.

NWT Wildfires Safety Check


A public Facebook group is available to mark yourself safe from the 2023 wildfires in the NWT.

If you need to report a missing person, contact the RCMP at 867-669-1111.

 NWT Alert

Follow the latest emergency alerts here: https://nwtalert.ca/#/

 

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