Storm drill tests new evacuation routes for the low-lying east side
About 1,200 residents took part in the exercise on Sunday morning
Sirens sounded across the east side of Port Ellery on Sunday as the city ran its first full-scale storm evacuation drill, testing routes redrawn after last winter's flooding.
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The city expects to publish a first progress report in the autumn. Until then, the planning office will accept written comments by email and at the front desk of City Hall during business hours.
Local employers have welcomed the news. "Anything that makes it easier for people to get to work and back is good for us," said Helen Osei, who runs a family business near the marina and employs about forty people during the summer season.
The proposal had stalled twice before, most recently in 2024, when a change in leadership at Northshore Transit put several projects on hold. This time, officials say, the funding is secured and the contracts are signed.
What the drill found
The decision follows months of public meetings in Port Ellery, where residents pressed officials for a clearer timeline and a firm budget. Council members said the final plan reflects most of that feedback, although two of the seven seats voted against it.
"We heard the same thing at every meeting: people want to know what happens next and who is accountable," said Helen Osei, who chairs the committee that reviewed the proposal. "This document answers both questions."
Officials at Northshore Transit said the change will be phased in over the next eighteen months, starting with the neighborhoods closest to the waterfront. A second phase, covering the rest of Marrow County, is expected to begin next spring.