In general, evacuations are managed by community governments and are called during emergencies to protect people from more harm. In the Northwest Territories, evacuations are most common when wildfires or floods risk damaging communities and threaten human life.

Knowing all you can about your community’s emergency plan is important to being ready for evacuations. Visit your local government’s website or contact them for more information.

The NWT Emergency Management Organization or Regional Emergency Management Organizations may also call for evacuations if community governments need assistance to manage an evacuation or need to evacuate residents to another community. They may also assist in communicating about evacuations if community governments request assistance or need to use the NWT alerting system.

• Learn more about evacuations and the territory’s emergency plan: NWT Emergency Plan

Unincorporated areas, like populated areas with homes or cabins that aren’t part of a community, are also sometimes evacuated. This most often happens due to wildfires or floods. These evacuations may be arranged by wildfire management teams.

Specific facilities, such as schools, hospitals, or groups of homes, may also be evacuated due to local threats, like environmental contamination or bomb threats. These evacuations may be called for by agencies like the RCMP or health authorities.

Planning for an evacuation

Being ready for an evacuation comes down to four important steps:

• Make an emergency plan: thinking ahead will prepare you and your household to protect what’s important and be ready when an evacuation may be required. For more information, visit Be Ready! Make an emergency plan and kit.
• Have an emergency kit: your emergency kit will prepare you to leave at a moment’s notice and sustain yourself until help arrives. For more information, visit Be Ready! Make an emergency plan and kit.
• Know your community emergency notification methods and assembly points: know how community officials will let you know an evacuation is required (i.e. siren, local radio, door-to-door, public alerting, etc.), and where you are supposed to assemble. Visit your community government’s website or contact them for more information: Community government contact list.
• Stay up-to-date: Keeping up-to-date with local news and alerts will allow you to know when there is a risk you may need to evacuate. Participate in any public information sessions held in your community if there are opportunities. For more information, visit Be Ready! Stay-up-to date with public safety information.

Evacuation Advisories

If the risk of evacuation exists, residents in the affected area will receive information as soon as possible. This often comes in the form of an evacuation advisory.

Evacuation advisories are generally issued by the responsible community government or local authority. The Regional or Territorial Emergency Management Organization may issue an evacuation advisory if a community government requests assistance.

There are four levels of evacuation advisories.

Evacuation Notice

This means an increased risk to your community because of an emergency nearby.

If you get an evacuation notice, you should prepare an emergency plan, emergency kit and grab-and-go bag.

Evacuation Alert

This means you need to be ready to leave on short notice. Residents may be asked to consider voluntarily leaving the area during an evacuation alert.

If you get an evacuation alert, have your emergency kit and emergency plan handy in case you need to leave on short notice. Listen closely to radio, follow news sources, and listen to any directions from local emergency officials.

Evacuation Order

This means you are at risk and must leave the area immediately. The evacuation order may be issued without first issuing an alert if there isn’t enough warning to do so.
If you get an evacuation order, leave your home immediately and proceed to your community’s assembly area. Listen to all directions from local emergency officials.

Evacuation All Clear

This means the situation is currently safe and you can return home. It’s important to stay tuned for other possible evacuation alerts or orders.

If you get an evacuation all clear, following any directions from your community government to return home safely.

Evacuation advisories can be issued in multiple ways. The most common are:

• Community governments:  in most cases, community governments will decide when to evacuate. They may use tools like social media, posters, flyers, and door-to-door notices.
• NWT Alert: will be used during widespread emergencies to broadcast emergency messages across radio, television, and cellphones. Community governments can also request the territorial government issue these messages on their behalf for local emergencies.
• Alertable app: provides information on public safety advisories, including evacuations. Download the Alertable app for your phone or keep up with the website.
• Government of the Northwest Territories: emergency information will be posted to the territorial government’s website in public safety bulletins and on the GNWT’s Facebook page.
• Radio: Information from community governments regarding emergencies may be shared via radio stations. Note that broadcasts using the NWT Alert system may also interrupt programming for evacuation alerts or orders.

For more information about finding information during an emergency, visit: Be Ready! Stay-up-to date with public safety information.

What to do when evacuating

Leave your home with your emergency kit. It will allow you and your household to have the basics to sustain you while waiting for help to arrive.

Follow instructions in evacuation alerts and orders. They will tell you where to go, and may tell you routes to avoid. Follow them closely to stay safe.

Listen to local emergency officials. They will have the latest information during an emergency. If they tell you there’s a change of plans, listen!

Check In at the Registration Location at the designated location as soon as you can.

Get in touch with loved ones to let them know you’re okay.

• If you have questions during evacuations, contact your community government officials. Visit: Community government contact information.

Accessing assistance during an evacuation

Residents evacuating will usually be directed to an evacuation centre, which is emergency accommodations typically set up in a recreation or community facility. Evacuation centres have sleeping accommodations, food and water, and bathrooms.

There may be additional emergency accommodations available for anyone with specialized needs. Speak with local emergency management officials to understand what is available and how to access them.

Alternatively, you may arrange to stay with a friend or relative outside the at-risk area. Be sure to notify local officials when you register and share your plan with your emergency contacts.

Speak with local emergency management officials about how to access healthcare, prescriptions, social, financial, or mental health supports. They will connect you to folks who can help in your area.

Remote supports are available during and after an emergency:

Disclaimer: The resources listed below include links to various sites that are owned and operated by third parties and are NOT affiliated with the Government of the Northwest Territories (‘GNWT’) in any way. By choosing to follow those links, you hereby acknowledge that you understand that the linked websites are independent from the GNWT and they are not subject to GNWT laws, including laws on the collection, use, and disclosure of personal (health) information.  You also acknowledge that the GNWT has no control over the content of such websites and is not responsible for examining or evaluating the content or accuracy for any third-party websites or any other materials, products, or services of third parties. Consequently, you agree that the GNWT cannot and will not be held liable for the content of those third-party websites and makes no warranty or representation whatsoever as to the accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the information contained on such websites. The links which we place on our Website do not imply that we sponsor, endorse, or are affiliated or associated with, or have been legally authorized to use any trademark, trade name, service mark, design, logo, symbol, or other copyrighted materials displayed on or accessible through such sites.

• Call 811 for 24/7 for Mental Health and Wellness Counseling from a registered nurse
• Youth can call the Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868, Or text CONNECT to 686868
• The Canada Suicide Prevention Service can be reach at 1-833-456-4566 
• Indigenous peoples can call the First Nation and Inuit Hope For Wellness (Indigenous Support line) at 1-855-242-3310

There are also online chat, online supports and Climate and Eco Anxiety Information and Supports.

Returning home

Return home only after an Evacuation All-Clear is issued and if your house is safe to return to. Follow the directions of local officials to ensure the safe restart of utilities, remaining hazards are dealt with and for cleaning and debris management.

For more information about returning home after a flood, visit: Be Ready! After a Flood.