Spring flood: More than 30 mm of rain expected over the next few days - Gatineau is ready!
Gatineau, April 26, 2019. – More than 30 mm of rain is expected over the next 48 hours. According to the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, water levels in excess of those observed during the worst of the May 2017 floods could be reached on Monday or Tuesday, depending on the amount of rainfall. The perimeters of most of the affected areas will likely be expanded.
Residents in those area asked to quickly prepare for flooding if they have not already done so. Crews are working flat-out on filling sandbags, as they have been since the start of this crisis. The distribution site are being continuously restocked based on demand. Sandbags, loose sand and empty bags are still available at 12 locations for residents.
For the latest updates, water levels and tips on how to prepare, residents can go to gatineau.ca/flood.
Gatineau is continuing to monitor and secure the roads throughout the territory, as it has been doing since the spring flooding started. It is adapting its measures as the situation requires, and doing everything possible to ensure the safety of residents.
Road conditions
| ● | Traffic is being detoured in several spots, and many streets are closed. This is complicating travel and slowing down traffic. Street closures are changing by the hour. |
| ● | Gatineau asks that people avoid driving through the flooded areas unless absolutely necessary, in order to keep them accessible to official vehicles and out of respect for the affected residents. |
| ● | Residents are encouraged to limit their travels by working from home whenever possible, and to use car-sharing or public transit over the next few days. |
| ● | If you must travel, be prudent and patient. |
| ● | Follow the signs and instructions from patrollers. |
| ● | A contingency has been set in place for peak weekday (Monday to Friday) periods around pont Alonzo:
- from 3 to 6:30 p.m., traffic will be limited to one way in the Gatineau sector direction; and
- from 5:30 to 9 :30 a.m., traffic will be limited to one way in the Hull sector direction. |
| ● | Public works crews laid rockfill last night on boulevard Fournier in anticipation of a possible rise in water levels due to the precipitation. |
Affected areas
Several emergency vehicles are going through the affected streets monitoring and assisting residents with evacuations.
The most affected sectors at this time are Gatineau and Masson-Angers.
The new projected perimeters for affected areas based on weather forecasts are in the Gatineau and Aylmer sectors, among others (see map on gatineau.ca):
Aylmer sector:
- Cédrière
- Beaulac
- Lamoureux
- Dorion
Gatineau sector:
- Pointe-Gatineau
- Notre-Dame
- Watt
- St-André
Tips on prevention and evacuation
Residents wishing to evacuate their homes and needing assistance can contact 311. Service de sécurité incendie firefighters are handing out voluntary evacuation notices to residents at risk.
At this point, evacuations are voluntary.
Residents are encouraged to keep an emergency kit handy at all times, filled with essential items, for each family member. According to the Government of Canada website at www.getprepared.gc.ca, your kit should keep you going for at least 72 hours.
Call 311 to report any disturbing situation. If the safety of people or property is at risk, call 911.
How to register and victims support centre
| ● | Residents and businesses finding themselves in one of the following situations are asked to register with Gatineau by calling 311, option 6:
- have evacuated or expect to evacuate shortly;
- have suffered damage to their home or business; or
- live or are located in areas affected by the spring flood.
|
| ● | Registrations are also being taken at the two victims support centres:
- Centre communautaire Jean-René-Monette
(89 rue Jean-René-Monette);
- Masson-Angers service centre (57 chemin Montréal Est).
|
| ● | A third victims support centre is being set up in the Aylmer centre just in case. |
| ● | Flood victims requiring emergency housing or support should go to the centre communautaire Jean-René-Monette (89 rue Jean-René-Monette) or to the Masson-Angers service centre (57 chemin Montréal Est). The Red Cross is on hand from 8:30 a.m. to midnight to assess their needs. |
| ● | Residents who feel the need can call 811 at any time for psychosocial support. |
Since the start of the spring flood
| ● | Since the start of the crisis more than a week ago, more than 750 municipal employees have been assigned exclusively to the spring flood. |
| ● | More than 20 Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been on hand to support municipal crews since last week. |
| ● | The priorities and needs are set by Gatineau. The following is needed:
- Site reconnaissance
- Measurement of water levels
- Assistance with evacuation by water
- Securing of certain municipal infrastructure, including the water treatment plant in the Aylmer sector.
|
| ● | As of 9:30 a.m. today, 726 people (348 households) have registered with Gatineau, including 619 adults and 107 children.
- As of 6 p.m. Thursday, 80 households are being looked after by the Red Cross.
|
| ● | As of 9:30 a.m. today (Friday), the distribution of registered households is as follows:
- 20 residence from the Masson-Angers sector;
- more than 120 from boulevard Hurtubise and rue Campeau;
- more than 200 from the Pointe-Gatineau district; and
- 2 from the Aylmer sector.
|
| ● | Two victims support centres are open, in the following locations:
- Centre communautaire Jean-René-Monette (89, rue Jean-René-Monette); and
- Masson-Angers service centre (57 chemin Montréal Est).
|
| ● | Since the start of the crisis, Gatineau's Service de sécurité incendie has received 50 requests for assistance with evacuations. In addition, the fire department has distributed more than 375 voluntary evacuation notices. |
| ● | So far, close to 630,000 sandbags have been distributed from 12 distribution sites. |
| ● | Special measures have been set in place for flood victims, including:
- Changes to household garbage collection arrangements.
- Mail delivery changes by Canada Post for affected residents.
- For details go to www.gatineau.ca.
|
Associated links
Spring flood
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