Kapuskasing will serve as hub for five days beginning tomorrow for Ft. Albany’s most vulnerable residents being evacuated due to flood risk. Town Administrator Guylain Baril says there could be as many as 600 residents airlifted to the Kap Airport.
“We bring them to the Civic Centre, the first planes, feed them a warm meal, have some activities for the kids, make sure they are comfortable that they have all they need for the day,” he said. “And then later on in the day when the four planes come in, we will bring them back to the airport and be brought to Mississauga with a larger aircraft.”
Baril says the length of stay will depend on weather conditions.
“When it comes to airplanes flying there may be some challenges and we are ready to keep them in Kap for a night or two or maybe longer, but the plan as it is today would be to only spend a day in Kapuskasing,” he said.
Baril says the airport is the preferred location because of its proximity to the further north community and ability to receive a high number of flights.
He adds that Mississauga is the preferred host for Ft. Albany, but Baril says that could change and Kap could be asked to help if a larger evacuation is needed.
