GNWT releases responses to the 2022 After-Action Review Recommendations

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released its formal response to the 2022 independent After-Action Review (AAR) of emergency response and recovery activities in relation to the flood in the Town of Hay River (HR) and Kátł'odeeche First Nation Reserve. These responses outline clear actions the GNWT will take to strengthen emergency preparedness and recovery from flooding for all flood risk communities across the Northwest Territories.

Media are invited to a briefing at 3:30pm today. Please RSVP to [email protected] and a Teams link will be provided.

The 2022 AAR on spring flooding was both a review of the GNWT's response to flooding in the Town of Hay River and the Kátł'odeeche First Nation Reserve, and a review of the recovery process. Both communities experienced significant long-term damage after the devastating floods in May 2022. The communities are still recovering, and it is expected that recovery will not be completed until 2027.

There were 38 recommendations issued in the 2022 AAR covering resource management, communications, training, preparedness, response, and recovery. Thirty-three of the recommendations were directed at the GNWT, while the remaining five were directed at community governments.

The GNWT has accepted, in whole or in part, 32 of the 33 recommendations. Work has already been done to implement most of the 2022 AAR recommendations, such as expanding the Incident Command System and Emergency Management training, creating an emergency management surge capacity protocol, and hiring Regional Emergency Management Coordinators. The GNWT will continue to use the 2022 AAR recommendations to inform emergency response and recovery activities.

Quote

"The 2022 floods in Hay River and the Kátł'odeeche First Nation Reserve were unprecedented. The time, effort, and complexity of the recovery have led to significant ongoing work for everyone involved. By implementing the actions laid out in the GNWT's response to the 2022 After-Action Review, the GNWT ensures that we are stronger, have built greater capacity and resilience, and are better prepared in our response to the effects of climate change, which may increase the impact of natural disasters across the NWT."

- Vince McKay, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs

Quick facts

• 33 of the 38 recommendations in the 2022 AAR were targeted at the GNWT, while the remaining five were for community governments.
• The GNWT has accepted, in whole or in part, 32 of 33 recommendations from the 2022 AAR that were directed at the GNWT.
• Recovery after the 2022 flood season is still ongoing and is not expected to be completed until 2027.
• The GNWT has already implemented most of the 2022 AAR recommendations by expanding the Incident Command System and emergency management training for staff and elected officials, creating an emergency management surge capacity protocol and hiring Regional Emergency Management Coordinators
• Improvements have already been undertaken to address most of the recommendations from the 2022 AAR in the updated NWT Emergency Plan, which was released in 2024.
• The GNWT will continue to organize Community Emergency Plan workshops and tabletop exercises to support community governments in their emergency response preparation.

Related links

• 2022 Emergency Response and Recovery After-Action Review
• GNWT Response to the 2022 After Action Review Recommendations
• Be Ready: Make an emergency plan and kit
• Public Safety

For media requests, please contact:
Jay Boast
Senior Communications and Planning Advisor
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
[email protected]
(867) 767-9162 ext. 21044