The town of Smiths Falls will host an undetermined number of flood evacuees from two northern Ontario communities starting Monday.
The evacuation of the First Nations communities of Kashechewan and Fort Albany began Saturday after ice breakup in a nearby river started to cause flooding.
Smiths Falls officials said they met on Saturday to declare a state of emergency and begin planning to take the evacuees, who will mostly be seniors and families with children to start.
They said their experience helping about hundreds of northern Ontario forest fire evacuees last summer will help them this time around.
Just like back in July and August, the evacuees will be housed at the Gallipeau Centre, a former hospital school.
Other evacuees are also being cared for in Kapuskasing and Wawa in northern Ontario.
Smiths Falls will be working with Lanark and Leeds/Grenville counties as well as the City of Kingston and surrounding municipalities.
Anyone who wants to volunteer can call 613-283-4124 extension 1171, but a news release said it may be difficult to get through because of the high number of calls expected.
