Premier says ‘everything is under control’ as Quebec grapples with spring flooding | CBC News

Several Quebec municipalities have been hit by flooding and many residents have been evacuated from their homes.

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said four regions were being closely monitored, including the Outaouais region, Argenteuil, Quebec City and Lanaudière.

“We have established close contacts with the mayors of these regions and cities,” she said, adding that the government is ready to step in and help if assistance is needed.

Frechette said the situation can change quickly, so it’s important for residents to stay informed and listen to instructions from local authorities.

“All I can say for now is that everything is under control,” she said.

On Sunday afternoon, Quebec authorities reported one major flooding event, seven moderate flooding events, 27 minor flooding events and 18 waters under monitoring in the province on the Coulonges River in the Outaouais region.

Authorities in the Montreal metropolitan area were on high alert as water levels could peak late Sunday afternoon.

Jean Brazeau, Quebec’s public security ministry’s regional director for the Laurentian and Lanaudière regions, said the next few hours could be difficult. Flow rates in the Ottawa River are expected to increase significantly, potentially impacting homes along the Rivière des Prairie.

Brazeau said the cities of Laval and Montreal are monitoring the situation, adding that so far no municipality has requested assistance from the Ministry of Public Safety.

Public Safety Minister Ian Lafreniere visited Pierrefonds-Roxboro on Sunday, where precautionary measures were underway, including the installation of sandbags.

“The good news is it’s cold. We’re hoping the cold weather will lead to less snow melt and stable water levels.” [of the Rivière des Prairies]” he told Radio-Canada.

In a news release late Sunday afternoon, the City of Montreal announced the closure of Chemin de Reims à l’Orme, located between Chemin de Senneville and Timberley Trail, “to ensure the safety of residents.” The closure will last “as long as necessary.”

The Emergency Preparedness Coordination Center has posted a map showing road conditions on the island to make travel easier for Montrealers.

As of 11:30 a.m., more than 600 residents were stranded or affected by minor flooding due to rivers flowing out of their beds, Public Security Ministry spokesman Luc Bourassa said.

“The system that is currently dumping between 15 and 30 millimeters of rain across Quebec is moving from west to east; [Ottawa River] All the way to the Capital Nationale,” Bourassa told CBC.

“So all the areas in between, the Outaouais, Laurentian, Lanaudière, Mauricie and Quebec City areas, there are multiple rivers flooding right now.”

However, Bourassa said the evacuation situation is not “dire” although some evacuations are occurring across the state.

The basements of some homes in Rhin-Saint-Martin, Saguenay, were flooded. City officials and firefighters have already met with affected residents.

The situation is particularly severe in Lanaudière and Laurentian, where authorities say nearly 100 homes are flooded, including about 65 in Mont-Tremblant.

The city added that the situation remains under control and no major incidents were reported on Sunday.

closed bridge

The Ile-au-Chat area of ​​the Saint-Andre-d’Argenteuil circulation is restricted to one lane with alternating traffic.

On Sunday morning, there were concerns that the closure of the bridge would cut off the area and leave around 100 homes in the area stranded. However, local public safety officials said the bridge was unlikely to be closed due to downward revisions to rainfall forecasts.

Brazeau said the bridge on the city’s Terrasse Robillard Street was closed on Friday, leaving 29 properties stranded.

The Jaune River has been flooding in the Capital Nationale region since Saturday evening, forcing the city of Lac-Beauport to close two bridges.

However, local authorities believe the situation has leveled off this morning and the worst is over.

The St. Charles River also flooded in Quebec City on Sunday, inundating nearby parks.

Environment Canada issued a storm surge warning for Quebec City on Sunday, with water levels along the city’s riverbanks expected to be higher than normal during Monday’s high tide.

Roads are also closed in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Laurentian, Lanaudiere, Outaouais and Capital-Nationales regions due to spring flooding, the Ministry of Transport said.

164 homes in Gatineau are at risk of flooding

And about 164 buildings are at risk of flooding as water levels in the Ottawa and Gatineau rivers continue to rise following warmer weather and rainfall, Civil Safety Director Denis Doucet said at a news conference Sunday morning.

Doucet said water levels in the Gatineau area are expected to peak on Monday and begin to stabilize by the end of the week. He warned that continued high water levels and the possibility of snowmelt from the north could keep the region at risk for at least another two weeks.

Forty-one streets in the city were also closed and emergency services stepped up their response efforts overnight. Mayor Maud Marquis Bissonnette said firefighters went door to door warning residents whose homes were at risk of flooding.

“At the moment the situation is under control and we know it very well,” she said at a briefing.

“Unfortunately, organizations are well prepared for this type of event. We encourage people to prepare accordingly.”

Environment Canada said cooler temperatures are expected over the next few days, which could stabilize river levels across the province.

However, Frechette said state officials will continue to monitor the situation closely, as some areas are expected to see more rain over the next two to three days.