Spring flooding: update of may 8, 2017 and status on roads in anticipation of rush hour

Gatineau, May 8, 2017. – Ville de Gatineau has observed overnight that water levels are relatively stable. However, a new rise in water levels is expected on the day of Wednesday. Gatineau is continuing its close watch and is reviewing its actions on the ground depending on how the situation unfolds.

Status on roads in anticipation of rush hour this morning

●	Many streets are closed in the city, making traffic more complex than usual. It is recommended that residents avoid or limit their travels.

●	Whenever possible, residents are asked to work from home. - Gatineau would like to thank local employers for their cooperation and understanding. - As a reminder, Gatineau has closed some municipal buildings in an effort to lighten the load on roads. Several other employers have followed suit.

●

If they have to venture out, motorists must: - avoid driving around unnecessarily to let emergency vehicles pass through; - use public transportation, carpool or drive outside of rush hour; - slow down upon approaching affected areas; - plan travels ahead of time; - take into account the fact that major slowdowns are to be expected.

●	To plan their travels, residents are asked to consult the map of affected streets on the municipal website.

●	For the safety of all on the roads, motorists are asked to let patrol officers and signs in place guide them.

●	A coordination committee made up of Ville de Gatineau, Sûreté du Québec, ministère des Transports du Québec and STO worked on Sunday on a traffic plan for the return to work.

Highway 50

●	MTQ worked on raising the road all night. Highway 50 westbound (to downtown) remains closed, since the operation was inconclusive. - As soon as possible, MTQ will inform the population of the reopening of travel lanes.

●	As a reminder, Highway 50 is closed to traffic: - Eastbound (to Buckingham and Masson-Angers areas), between Montcalm Street and Highway 5. A detour via Maisonneuve Boulevard is in place. - Westbound (to downtown), between De La Gappe Boulevard and Montcalm Street.

Image

Map

Fournier Boulevard

●	Rockfilling work was carried out by municipal teams during the night on Fournier Boulevard.

●	Both lanes in both directions are open to traffic.

●	For the safety of all, motorists are urged to slow down upon approaching gravel segments.

Alonzo-Wright Bridge

●	During morning rush hour, both lanes of the Alonzo-Wright Bridge will be one way (to Saint-Joseph Boulevard). - The return to two-way lanes should occur after rush hour, around 9:30 a.m.

Street closures

●	The status on streets that are closed or affected by flooding can change quickly, depending on how the situation unfolds on the ground.

●	Patrol officers from Service de police are deployed to manage traffic. It is important to follow the temporary signage and barricades in place.

Traffic – Société de transport de l'Outaouais

●	In order to alleviate traffic, residents are urged to use public transportation and carpooling.

●	Public transportation with STO is free on the entire network as of today and until further notice.

●	Several lines have been rerouted due to local road constraints. - STO uploaded a special page on its updated services for users: www.sto.ca/index.php?id=692&L=fr&source=sto_mobile. - The information will also be posted in social media.

Volunteers

●	Residents wishing to help fill sandbags can go to Aréna Campeau today from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Aréna Campeau is located at 165 Des Sables Street. - It is recommended to bring your shovel and gloves.

●	Since May 4, thousands of volunteers have filled close to 52,000 sandbags.

●	Gatineau would like to thank volunteers for their invaluable assistance and involvement!

Teams on the ground

●	City employees are deployed on the ground and have been working hard 24 hours a day since May 1. - More than 900 Ville de Gatineau employees are taking turns day and night.

●

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces arrived in Gatineau on Sunday morning. - Sunday, May 7: some thirty military force members, five trucks and two boats have been providing support to the municipal teams on the ground. - Monday, May 8: more military force members are expected in Gatineau to carry out various tasks in support of municipal teams.

Use of pumps or other devices that could come into contact with water*

●	The risk of electric shock is higher in wet or humid areas.

●	When using pumps or other devices that could come into contact with water, it is strongly recommended to use a differential circuit breaker, commonly called Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).

●	This device protects the electric circuits from power surges that could cause death or severe injuries. *Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Emergency measures

●	From the first hours of the flood, Gatineau has deployed all actions that make up its emergency action plan.

●	From the very beginning, Gatineau has been working in close cooperation with Direction régionale de la sécurité civile to ensure proper management of emergency measures.

●	Currently, the only thing that would change if a state of emergency were to be officially declared is that the City would have the power to: a- order flood victims to evacuate and b- requisition any private building to meet housing requirements.

●	Given the circumstances, Gatineau prefers to always give the option of staying home to flood victims, which explains why a state of emergency has not been declared for the moment.

●	It should be noted that Direction régionale de la sécurité civile supports Gatineau's actions.

Statistics and quick facts

Preventive and voluntary evacuations

●	Number of homes visited by firefighters (since May 1): 3,088 - It should be noted that firefighters are visiting homes more than once in the majority of cases (up to 6 visits).

●	Number of homes evacuated by Service de sécurité incendie: 443

●	Persons evacuated on a voluntary basis by Service de sécurité incendie: 794

●	Persons being looked after by the Red Cross: 763 - Jean-René-Monette: 672 - Masson-Angers: 91 - Number of pets evacuated (registered/looked after): close to 150

●	Homes where gas has been shut off: 276

●	Homes where power has been shut off: 243

Sandbags

●	Number of bags distributed since May 1: close to 244,000

●	Number of sandbags distributed since April 18: close to 319,000

Volunteers

●	Number of bags filled by volunteers: - May 4: 2,400 - May 5: 4,900 - May 6: 25,000 (2,000 volunteers at Aréna Campeau) - May 7: 19,400 (1,500 volunteers at Aréna Campeau)

Non-emergency call centre (311)

●	8,219 calls from May 1 to May 7 at 11:59 p.m.

●	16 calls since midnight on May 8

Sewer back-ups

●	Number of sewer back-ups confirmed from May 1 to May 8 (4 a.m.): 24

Note
Statistics for this news release were last updated at 5 a.m. on Monday, May 8, 2017. These are the latest statistics available.

Associated links

Webpage on spring flooding

Impacts on traffic and map of flooded streets and sandbag distribution sites

Webpage on floods

Webpage on sewer back-ups

Fact sheet on sewer back-ups during a flood

STO's website

MTQ's website

– 30 –