Water levels expected to rise: Ville de Gatineau asks residents to prepare for flooding in certain sectors

Gatineau, April 17, 2023. – For the past few weeks, Gatineau has been monitoring water levels in the rivers and adapting its actions based on developments. Although Gatineau's predictions were optimistic last week, the situation has changed quickly due to the rapidly melting snow caused by higher than expected temperatures, compounded by today's and coming rainfall. Based on the latest available information, some houses may flood by Friday.

Quick facts

●	Municipal crews are at the ready and monitoring the entire territory.

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The sectors at greatest risk of being affected are: In the Gatineau sector: - rue Cartier; - rue Jacques-Cartier Est; - the portion between the autoroute and rue Moreau, as well as rue Adélard and rue Jacques-Cartier Ouest; - the neighbourhood of rue Riviera, rue Glaude, rue Saint-Patrice and rue Saint-Paul; and - boulevard Hurtubise Est and Ouest, and rue Campeau and rue de Versailles. In the Masson-Angers sector: - chemin du Fer-à-Cheval.

●	Gatineau will close and add rockfill along several streets over the next few hours.

●	The Centre de coordination des mesures d'urgence (CCMU) centre for emergency preparedness is now operational, and the Centre d'opération d'urgence sur le site (COUS) on-site emergency operations centre will be when required.

●	Gatineau will keep the public informed as the situation changes.

●	Street sweeping and pothole filling operations are suspended until the flooding situation has been resolved.

Sandbags

●	Currently, close to 40,000 sandbags have been filled and will be distributed tomorrow morning to the seven sites. Crews have started filling additional bags.

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In addition, bulk bags, empty bags and ties will be available starting at 8 p.m. Sandbags will be distributed tomorrow to the following sites: - parc Louis-Roy on rue Louis-Roy; - the intersections of rue Campeau and rue Hurtubise; - the intersection of rue de Versaille and rue Hurtubise; - the intersections of rue Saint-Sauveur and rue Saint-Denis; - the municipal parking lot at parc La Baie; - the parking lots of the Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf community centre on rue Moreau; and - chemin du Quai (the launching ramp).

●	Gatineau has three baggers, which speeds up the process of filling bags. At this time, 200,000 empty bags are ready to be filled.

What residents can do

●	Gatineau would like to remind residents that emergency measures are everyone's business and call for teamwork. Residents also have an important part to play. They are asked to take the necessary steps to keep their properties safe and protect their homes.

●	Gatineau asks residents to cooperate when it comes to the use of sandbags. They should take what they need gradually so their neighbours can also get some. That way, everyone will be able to build their dikes in preparation for the weekend.

●	Residents are also invited to sign up for text message and email alerts through gatineau.ca/flood.

●	Any resident who feels the need can call 811 at any time for psycho-social support. Info-Social 811 is a free and confidential telephone consultation service offered 24/7, 365 days a year.

Citation

“The situation has changed quickly over the past few days, and is now cause for concern. However, this is not the first time Gatineau finds itself in this situation. Previous experiences have enabled it to become a finely tuned machine when it comes to responding to disasters. Municipal crews are ready and on site. I invite all residents in the affected sectors to prepare and sign up for the notifications,” indicated Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle.

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