Military to arrive in Pimicikimak Monday as community still faces water issues

A seven-member Canadian Armed Forces team will arrive in Pimicikimak this week to provide technical assistance and infrastructure assessments; the community continues to deal with frozen water systems, sewer backups and other damage after a days-long power outage.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba is still coping with widespread water and infrastructure damage after a days-long power outage earlier this month. Chief David Monias said members of the Canadian Armed Forces will arrive on Monday to provide technical assistance, assessments and support for recovery operations. Many homes experienced frozen water systems, sewer backups and burst pipes, and a large portion of residents remain displaced. The community also endured a wildfire last spring that led to earlier displacements. Known details: - Seven members from the Canadian Forces Joint Operational Support Group are scheduled to arrive this week to assist with technical assessments and infrastructure support. - The outage has left household water tanks frozen in places, and crews are finding thaw-related leaks, sewer backups and electrical damage as work continues. - About 4,000 people who were evacuated during the outage have not returned, and officials are assessing damage to more than 1,300 homes. - A mobile camp to house up to 30 workers is being set up, and the community has requested a temporary water treatment plant to support repair work. Summary: The community continues to experience significant impacts from the power outage, including damaged water and sewage systems and widespread housing damage. A seven-member CAF team will begin work this week to provide technical support and infrastructure evaluations, while local leaders and other workers carry out assessments and repairs. Efforts to restore services and address longer-term infrastructure issues are ongoing.