Spring flooding: Invitation to the media and status report of may 7, 2017

Gatineau, May 7, 2017. – The mayor will be welcoming military force members who will be deployed in Gatineau this morning, at Gatineau's mobile command post, located on the corner of Versailles and Watt streets, in the Gatineau sector. The media are invited to take advantage of a photo opportunity at 8:45 a.m.

Ville de Gatineau is continuing to watch rivers and to take actions on the ground due to the floods.

Status report

●	According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, 117 mm of rain has fallen in the area since May 1, including 16 mm on the day of Saturday May 6.

●	Only 1 to 3 mm of rain is expected in Gatineau on the day of Sunday.

●	Water levels could continue to rise in the coming hours and days.

●	From Saturday May 6 to Sunday May 7, we observed rises in water levels: - At the Aylmer marina: 18 cm rise - At the Kitchissipi marina in the Gatineau sector: 25 cm rise - At the Bourbonnais ferry ramp in the Masson-Angers sector: 18 cm rise

Traffic

Main new traffic statuses

●	Local traffic: - Rue Principale, between the Aylmer marina and Front Street - A segment of Lapointe Street - Sanscartier from Plouffe to Notre-Dame

●	Closed to traffic: - Highway 50 westbound, between Montcalm Street and the Lac Leamy. detour via Maisonneuve Boulevard. - Notre-Dame between Léger Street and Du Lac Road. - A segment of Fraser Street - A segment of Lapointe Street

●	Reminder: Before heading out, residents should consult the map of flooded streets on the municipal website.

●	Gatineau is adding parking spaces at various locations for the affected residents: - Aréna Paul-et-Isabelle-Duchesnay (92 Du Patrimoine Street) - Aréna Beaudry (23 Saint-Alexandre Street) - Centre sportif Robert-Rochon (97 De L'Aréna Street) - Le Baron community centre (104 Du Barry Street)

●	Gatineau has acquired two Argos, amphibious all-terrain vehicles, to patrol the flooded streets.

Reminder: Volunteers

Residents wishing to help fill sandbags should go to Aréna Campeau (165 Des Sables Street) today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- It is recommended to bring a shovel and gloves.
- It is not necessary to register with 311 to take part in this chore.

Statistics and quick facts
Preventive and voluntary evacuations

●	Number of homes visited by firefighters (since May 1): 3,069 - 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: 390

●	Persons evacuated on a voluntary basis by Service de sécurité incendie: 689

●	Persons being looked after by the Red Cross: 530 - Jean-René-Monette: 460 - Masson-Angers: 70 - Number of pets evacuated (registered/looked after): 142

●	Homes where gas has been shut off: 232

●	Homes where power has been shut off: More than 200

Sandbags

●	Number of bags distributed since May 1: close to 183,000

●	Number of sandbags distributed since April 18: more than 257,000

●	Gatineau has acquired a bag-filling machine, which allows it to fill 4 sandbags at a time, for a total of 1,600 bags per hour.

Volunteers

●	On the day of May 6 (Saturday), 2000 volunteers came to Aréna Campeau. More than 25,000 sandbags were filled by these volunteers.

Non-emergency call centre (311)

●	6778 calls from May 1 to May 6 at midnight

●	34 calls on May 7 since midnight

Non-emergency call centre (311)

●	6778 calls from May 1 to May 6 at midnight

●	34 calls on May 7 since midnight

Sewer back-ups

●	Number of sewer back-ups confirmed from May 1 to May 7 (4:30 a.m.): 15

Note

Statistics for this news release were last updated at 5 a.m. on Sunday May 7, 2017. These are the latest statistics available.

Associated links

Webpage on spring flooding

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

Images

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