Inuvik (Feb 02/04) - Emergency generators were at the forefront of people's minds when Premier Joe Handley visited Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson earlier this month.

On Jan. 23 and 24, the premier made a scheduled visit to the two Gwich'in communities to talk to residents and gather feedback.

The short trip turned into a discussion about emergency readiness -- Fort McPherson's NWT Power Corporation plant fire having happened four days prior.

The fire destroyed the plant Jan. 19, rendering the community without electricity for nearly 14 hours.

Tsiigehtchic chief Peter Ross asked Handley for back-up generators for the school gym, nursing station and hamlet office in case something ever happened to their power plant.

"I think (the fire) opened up our eyes," said Ross a day before the meeting.

A "good crowd" welcomed Handley to Fort McPherson, said Troy Jenkins, senior administrative officer.

In a letter addressed to the premier, acting Mayor William Koe, called the lack of generators at Chief Julius school and the airport "totally unacceptable."

While the school is designated to be the emergency evacuation facility, the community was unable to use it because there was no power.

Koe said the community will be applying for disaster relief under the GNWT Disaster Assistance Policy.

"The hamlet has experienced extraordinary expenses and many individual home owners suffered damage," wrote Koe.

The premier seemed to agree with Koe's suggestions to leave an extra generator in the area and to build a new hamlet office and fire/emergency station similar to the combined facility in Inuvik.

"Handley gave no specifics, but he did say he would meet with his departments and direct the ministers to help the people in the community with the cost (of the fire and power outage) in the current budget," said Jenkins.

The fire and resulting power outage will cost the community between $15,000 and $20,000, said Koe.

It will cost the NWT Power Corp. around $5 million to replace the power plant.