Many Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw community members and staff are stranded down island due to the recent closure of highway 19 after a slide covered the road. For anyone that is stranded in Campbell River and can't get home, please go to the Campbell River Community Centre (401-11th Ave.) before 5pm today to register and get your hotel and food costs covered.
As of 308 p.m. today they had cleared the highway enough for single-lane traffic to get through. If you're planning to come home tonight, be prepared for about a 15 minute wait.
For anyone stuck in Port Hardy, trying to get home down island, the Port Hardy Civic Centre is where you need to go to register before 5pm today, or the Haidaway Inn in Pt. McNeill.
www.drivebc.ca is posting regular updates on the closure, and others around the province. I have also been posting updates to the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Facebook page.
Here are two news articles about the recent mudslide that resulted in a closure of Highway 19 on Sunday, November 17:
There is also a power outage near Coal Harbour. BC Hydro estimates power will be back on Dec. 1 at 4pm.
Hope you are all safe and sound out there. If you are interested in participating in Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Emergency Planning, please call Bob Swain, Public Works, at (250) 230-0087. You can read about our emergency planning (and view our plan) here: http://www.gwanak.info/for-members/projects/emergency-planning-preparedness-ongoing
Take care!
Jessie Hemphill
Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations
Executive Assistant & Communications
jessieh@gwanakplan.org
Phone: (250) 949-8343
Fax: (250) 949-7402
Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations
Executive Assistant & Communications
jessieh@gwanakplan.org
Phone: (250) 949-8343
Fax: (250) 949-7402