It’s a dire situation in the Port aux Basques area where a storm, the likes of which has never been seen in the region, is swallowing up parts of town.

Houses and infrastructure are being washed out to sea, and it looks like the water system has been compromised. A state of emergency is in effect and many residents are under a mandatory evacuation order.

Mayor Brian Button says the devastation is widespread, and he’s urging people to stay home so that first responders and municipal staff can do their work and get people out from the lower part of downtown.

He says the tidal surges are coming in but people are still going down to the coastline to have a look and get pictures and getting in the way of the evacuation procedure.

Some people under a mandatory order are refusing to leave but the mayor says if they find themselves in trouble, first responders may not be able to get to them.

The two emergency centres are large but they could use some help from people in the area.

Hotels are full, but the Bruce Arena is large enough to accommodate a large number of people.

The town hall is flooded, so the town has set up a command centre at the Hospital for response to emergency calls and questions from affected residents.

For those trying to leave the community, Button urges them not to take the bridge or causeway, but to head inland toward the highway.

Rene Roy, with the local Wreckhouse Press, says so far there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or people unaccounted for.

He says he wants to avoid spreading rumours but says given current conditions, it would not surprise him if someone was ultimately lost during the storm.