Slave Lake residents to return to the town this week

Residents of Slave Lake will be returning to the town in phases starting on Wednesday. The plan calls for all of the residents to be allowed to return to the town within the next few days.

Before residents could return, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in the Town of Slave Lake had to make sure certain criteria was met.

The first phase of the plan was to ensure that wildfires are no longer a threat to the region, and power and phone service has been restored to the town.

In areas where phone service could not be restored, free cell phones will be provided to residents. A boil water advisory is also in place for the community.

Phase two of the plan will see essential service workers (such as health care providers, utility personnel, protective and fire service personnel, local government and community officials) and their families, return starting Wednesday.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of more than 1,400 dedicated professionals, we are prepared to start allowing essential service staff and their families back into our community,” said Karina Pillay-Kinnee, Mayor of Slave Lake. “I must stress that we are still under a state of local emergency and this is not a general call for people to return to our community - we still have a tremendous amount of work to do between now and then.”

The EOC is now in the process of contacting essential service workers and letting them know they are able to return.

RCMP officers will continue to operate a roadblock in the area, preventing unauthorized persons from entering the town.

After the essential service workers have returned, phase three of the plan will allow business owners and employees of undamaged businesses to return to Slave Lake.

Individuals who are employed in other regions will also be allowed to temporarily access the town at this point to retrieve tools that they rely on for their livelihood.

These groups will be contacted by the EOC when they are able to return.

“I want to commend the evacuees for their patience,” said Denny Garratt, Reeve of the MD of Lesser Slave River. “Once all essential services are ready, we will start to allow key businesses to return home to ensure that we have a functioning community that is ready to support all displaced residents.”

The fourth and final phase of the plan will see families return to the region. More information will be provided to these residents after the first two groups have returned to the town.

“You cannot underestimate the level of detail and necessary checks that are needed to begin the re-entry process,” said Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Hector Goudreau. “The phased-in approach allows us to ensure that the appropriate level of support is ready and available for the safe return of residents to their community.”

You can read the full Slave Lake community re-entry plan below: