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Red Earth residents evacuated to Saskatoon

Apr 17, 2011 | 2:59 PM

It may be a while before Red Earth First Nation residents are allowed back to their homes.

There are 257 people in Saskatoon hotels and shelters after an evacuation was declared due to rising water levels. It has displaced 61 families.

The only road in and out of the reserve sits a foot under water.

Norm Vetter, provincial manager for emergency social services, said chief and council had hope to stay for just a week.

“And that was based on flooding related to the creek that was flowing into the community, but the issue now is the Qu’Appelle River system,” he said.

The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority is keeping a close eye, and will let them know when it's safe to head back to Red Earth.

The government is reviewing circumstances on a daily basis, and in the meantime any medical issues from the flooding are being dealt with by the Saskatoon health region.

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