Situation update - Freezing Rain Storm - March 12, 2026

Gatineau, March 12, 2026. – At this time, nearly 5,000 households are without power, mainly in the Buckingham and Gatineau sectors. La Ville de Gatineau is in close communication with Hydro-Québec to monitor the situation as outages are reported and service is restored. Municipal crews remain mobilized, and municipal services are continuing, with the exception of a few locations that are closed due to power outages.

La Ville de Gatineau will provide further updates on its social media channels and on its website.

Quick facts

●	A precautionary boil water advisory is currently in effect for the Gatineau sector. Full details are available at gatineau.ca.

●	Due to power outages, the following municipal buildings are currently closed: – Centre de services de Masson-Angers (57 Montréal Road East) – Centre aquatique Lucien-Houle (580A Maclaren Street)

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Residents looking to charge their portable devices or fill water containers may do so at the following locations: – Centre sportif Robert-Rochon, open until 10 p.m. (97 de l'Aréna Street) – Bibliothèque Bernard-Lonergan, open until 8 p.m. (181 Joseph Street) – Centre communautaire et culturel de Buckingham, open until 10 p.m. (181 Joseph Street)

●	Residents who wish to take a shower may also go to the following locations until 10 p.m. today: – Centre sportif Robert-Rochon (97 de l'Aréna Street) – Centre sportif de Gatineau (850 de la Gappe Boulevard) – Centre aquatique Paul-Pelletier (325 Aylmer Road)

●	If the power outage continues, residents are encouraged to make arrangements with friends or family for temporary accommodation.

Road network

●	Several traffic lights are currently not functioning or are operating in flashing mode. Residents are reminded to come to a complete stop and proceed with caution.

●	Municipal crews are continuing to spread abrasives on streets and sidewalks across the city.

●	Tree-trimming crews are also on site today to prune and remove broken or fallen branches from public roadways.

Safety tips

●	To ensure the safe and efficient operation of natural gas appliances, it is important to carefully clear air intakes, exhaust vents, and the meter. If the meter is covered in ice, contact your natural gas provider's customer service without delay.

●	Never operate a combustion device (heater, chain saw, generator, etc.) indoors, even in a ventilated area. It is also important to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a generator to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

●	If a power outage lasts more than six hours, food should be sorted once power is restored. To view the full list of foods to keep or discard, visit the Government of Québec website at quebec.ca.

Associated links

Precautionary Boil Water Advisory for the Gatineau Sector and Part of the Hull Sector – Ville de Gatineau

Power outages

What food to throw away after a power outage or flood | Gouvernement du Québec

Gatineau (V) - Status by region - Power outages | Hydro-Québec

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