Evacuees from Whati have been waiting for the news that they can go home.
That news came on Friday afternoon as the community government announced that residents could start heading back home as of 10 a.m. Saturday morning. An evacuation order had been given on Aug. 29 due to the wildfires that had been bearing down on the community.
A social media post from the community government on Friday indicated that essential workers were heading back to get things back up and running and that they were the only ones allowed in until Saturday morning.
Buses for those who need transportation will start leaving the Fieldhouse in Yellowknife, the evacuation centre, at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. The Tlicho Government posted a series of phone numbers on annual media for people who needed to set up a ride.
Because evacuees can begin returning home, the City of Yellowknife announced that the evacuation centre will shut down on Sunday at 12 p.m. The Northwestel field inside the Fieldhouse would remain closed as staff worked to get the field back to working order for the public, the city added.
The Tlicho Government and United Way NWT were providing evacuees with gas and grocery gift cards on Friday evening at the evacuation centre for those who need supplies to head home with. The Tlicho Government also told residents to check their refrigerators when they returned home and throw out any food that looks spoiled.
For evacuees who have been staying in Behchoko, breakfast and lunch will be served at the Culture Centre on Saturday, but no more meals will be provided after that, announced the Tlicho Government. A bus will be leaving the centre on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. to take anyone who needs a ride back home.
