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State of Emergency issued as the Yukon prepares for flooding

Monday, 12 July 2021 13:52

By Dylan MacNeil

Tagish Lake (Photo: flickr.com Richard Martin)

The State of Emergency will be in effect for up to 90 days and can be cancelled at any time.

With water levels in Marsh Lake, Lake Laberge, Bennet Lake and Tagish Lake surpassing historic 2007 flood levels, the government of Yukon has issued a State of Emergency under the Civil Emergency Measures Act.

According to a press release issued Friday night, “the State of Emergency gives the Government of Yukon the tools and flexibility to ensure the safety and security of residents impacted by flooding in the Southern Lakes region. It expands the toolbox the Yukon government can draw from to mitigate the impacts of the flood, including issuing evacuation orders, as needed.”

The release goes on to say, “With the rapidly changing situation, this step is critical to ensuring our ability to respond effectively to help residents in need.”

An Incident Management Team made up of over 60 Government of Yukon personnel, flood specialists from Manitoba and Saskatchewan and about 100 members of the Canadian Armed Forces, is in place in the Southern Lakes.

The State of Emergency will be in effect for up to 90 days and can be cancelled at any time.

The Yukon government is also recommending local traffic only in all flood impacted areas to ensure public and responder safety.

They are also asking that people don’t make boat wakes within 200 metres of the shore because they undermine flood mitigation efforts. As well, people should stay clear of fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks, be aware of elevated river danger, including dangerous currents and increased debris.

The government also says do not swim in areas with dangerous currents and uncertainties, such as the bridge in Carcross and beach on Bennett Lake.

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