Mandatory evacuation orders expanded for areas of Fort McMurray

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – A State of Local Emergency remained in effect for Fort McMurray Thursday, as mandatory evacuations were expanded for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB).

In the interest of public safety, RMWB’s Emergency Management ordered mandatory evacuations for Grayling Terrace and the most southerly portion of Draper Road, Thursday afternoon.

Erosion on Beacon Hill’s southwest side is causing material to fall into the Hangingstone River. With heavy rainfall expected  Thursday evening and through the next 48 hours, the amount of erosion is expected to increase significantly, a spokesperson for RMWB said.

The falling material threatens to backup the flow of water on the Hanginstone. This backup has strong potential to flood Grayling Terrace. Sandbags to secure Grayling Terrace are in place, with more on the way.

Approximately 340 residents will be affected by the Grayling Terrace mandatory evacuation.

Also, as a result of the deterioration of Draper Road, Regional Emergency Management has issued a mandatory evacuation order for residences on Draper Road, that are south of the Draper Bridge. This bridge crosses the Saprae Creek, and is approximately 6.5 kilometres south on Draper Road.  The 78 residents affected by this mandatory evacuation are south of this section of road way. It is only this section of Draper Road that is under mandatory evacuation.

Emergency Services personnel will be facilitating these evacuations, and ensuring safe transport to the reception centre at Frank Lacroix arena.  Residents that require assistance with the evacuation are directed to call the Citizen Inquiry Line at 780-762-3639.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Fort McMurray, Melissa Blake, says workers and volunteers are sandbagging the city’s Heritage Park and working on dyking to protect the local high school and college.

Heritage Park is operated by the Fort McMurray Historical Society and contains 17 historic buildings, including a trapper’s cabin, a Catholic mission and an Anglican church.

A state of emergency and a boil-water order for the area were declared Tuesday due to flooding of the Hangingstone River and concern over the Clearwater River and its tributaries.

Brad Grainger with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo says workers are trying to fix a main gas line that ruptured when water eroded the ground covering it.

He says the community is at “the mercy of Mother Nature,” since more rain is forecast for the rest of the week.

Mounties say they are going door-to-door in the trailer park to make sure that people comply with the mandatory evacuation order.

“Areas that have been identified as evacuation zones, especially those classified as mandatory, are not safe at this time,” RCMP said in a news release.

“Anyone who remains in those areas will likely find themselves with minimal resources, if any, including a lack of power and running water, as well as the likelihood that RCMP and other emergency services will not be in a position to respond to calls in a timely manner.”

So far, the flooding has had little impact on oilsands operations in the Fort McMurray, Alta., region.

It’s business as usual at Syncrude Canada’s massive mining operations, which is well to the north of where the flooding is taking place, said spokesman Will Gibson.

Syncrude has offered its own emergency response resources to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, should they be needed, he added.

“Our employees, most of them live in this community, so some of them may have been impacted and our thoughts are with them,” said Gibson.

Gibson, who has lived in Fort McMurray for nine years, said he’s never seen the Hangingstone River so high.

Aside from commutes to and from site taking a bit longer as a result of the rain, Imperial Oil’s newly-opened Kearl mine, further north than Syncrude, is also operating normally, said spokesman Pius Rolheiser.

Construction on Husky Energy’s Sunrise project hasn’t been affected by the flooding, but spokeswoman Kim Guttormson said the company is keeping an eye on the situation.

However, Suncor spokesperson Kelli Stevens says the AOSTRA Road was closed around 10:30 a.m. on Monday after heavy rains made it impassible.

An emergency response plan was activated at the MacKay River facility, and some employees were transported out of the area and asked to work from Fort McMurray instead of the site, says Stevens.

A worker who contacted Global News says a large number of workers have been relocated to different camps because the access road was washed out. He adds the relocated workers have had to leave camp without their personal items, including wallets, ID cards, keys, and clean clothing.

Stevens says Suncor is asking for the patience and cooperation of the workers who were asked to leave as the company limits the number of on-site staff needed for essential operations only.

She adds Suncor is working on a comprehensive plan to get the road repaired safely and as quickly as possible, but that the current flooding and future weather conditions could impact the timeline.|

Blake is thanking those who have come together to help in the emergency situation.

“Typically, in an emergency situation like this one, people want to assist as the emergency is unfolding because we feel helpless or powerless to control the situation and we simply just want to be involved and help out,” said Blake. “However, it is usually after the immediate crisis is over that the real need for volunteers begins. So we are encouraging those who want to volunteer to watch the Volunteer Wood Buffalo Facebook page for updates or contact the volunteer hotline.”

Those who would like to volunteer, or citizens requiring support are encouraged to phone the Volunteer hotline on 780-788-4345.

With files from Global News