Spring flood: Gatineau is adapting its actions in accordance with COVID-19, and inviting shoreline residents to prepare

Gatineau, April 9, 2020. – Although there is no current indication of floodings, Gatineau is preparing as it does every year. Given the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19, municipal crews have had to adapt their intervention plan. The physical distancing measures introduced by the Province have to be maintained even in case of flooding. Gatineau will do everything it can to support shoreline residents, but the level of service it will be able to offer will be more limited than in the past.

Accordingly, shoreline residents will have to handle more on their own. Thus, Gatineau urges its residents to start preparing now and to arrange for shelter in case they need to evacuate.

Quick facts

●	Given the current pandemic, all interventions will be adapted to ensure public safety and the safety of staff. Services to shoreline property owners and to flood victims will be managed from a distance as much as possible.

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Water levels and weather forecasts are being closely monitored in conjunction with the Ministère de la Sécurité publique and the Commission de planification de la régularisation de la rivière des Outaouais (CPRRO). o According to the CPRRO, monitoring levels have been reached in some cases, and will be in others. This could result in minor flooding in low-lying areas, as often happens during spring floods. o The Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) is beginning to monitor water levels around the territory today.

●	Depending on how the situation evolves, Gatineau could offer sand in bulk and bags in strategic locations. In any case, physical distancing measures will have to be maintained.

●	Gatineau is able to take precise measurements of water levels in real time in every sector. o Gatineau has four hydrometric stations and has access to two of Environment Canada's. o To check water levels, go to gatineau.ca/flood.

●	As you know, the main factors influencing spring floods are: o the amount of snowfall over the winter; o sudden warm temperatures that stay high overnight; and o the amount of rainfall.

Reminder: what you can do to prepare

●	Residents also have an important role to play in ensuring their own safety. The first steps in ensuring your own safety and that of your family and possessions are up to you.

●	Make sure that water running down from your eavestroughs runs off far enough and away from your house.

●	Check the condition of your pumps and floor drains.

●	Do not store any valuables or important documents in the basement.

●	Keep an emergency kit with essential items for each family member. Your kit should provide the necessities for at least 72 hours. Check getprepared.gc.ca for tips.

●	Be sure to follow the health and physical distancing measures in anything you do in connection with the spring floods.

●	Consult gatineau.ca/flood for additional tips on preparations, and for the latest updates. If you have not already done so, sign up for text messaging or email alerts.

Quote

“As stated on numerous occasions, Gatineau is a resilient and proactive city when it comes to floods and emergency measures. For the time being, there is no reason to expect any flooding this spring, but our crews are preparing nonetheless. Should there be any flooding, our response and actions will have to be different this year given the pandemic. We will all have to adapt to a new reality. For that reason, I ask all shoreline residents to start preparing now, and to find a place where they can go in case they have to evacuate,” noted Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin.

Associated links

Spring flood

Prepare

Flood Alert

Emergency Kit

Stay Tuned

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