Quebec flooding forces almost 1,700 from their homes

Flooding from the spring thaw and rain has affected more than 2,500 householdsin Quebec and almost 1,700 residents have been forced to leave their homes, according to the latest numbers by Urgence Qubec.

Soldiers across the province werefilling and stacking sandbags as officials warned floodwaters are likely to keep rising this week due to warming temperatures, combined with rain.

Hundreds of volunteers and municipal workers are also workingto protect properties.

At least one death can be attributed to the flooding thus far. A woman in her 70s was killed early Saturday morningin Pontiac, Que., about 50 kilometres west of Ottawa, when she drove into a massive hole created after floodwaters washed out a road, Pontiac's mayorJohanne Labadiesaid.

• THE LATEST | Quebec officials remain on flood alert with rain in the forecast

Urgence Qubec said Sundaythere were five major floods affecting residents in 51 different municipalities, includingin the Montreal region, where officials are keeping a close eye on Mille les River and the Rivire des Prairies stacking sandbags and building makeshift dikes.

On Monday afternoon,Urgence Qubecsaid a total of 2,549houses were flooded and another 1,565 were isolated by flooding, making them inaccessible by road.

Many roads are closed and evacuations were in progress Monday morningin Quebec's Beauceregion, wheretheChaudire River at one stage on Saturday was rising byabout 20 to 25 centimetres per hour.

In downtown Sainte-Marie,almost 1,000 homes have been affected. Parked carswere submerged in some areas and boats were used to rescue residentstrapped in their homes. Electricity to much of the areahas been cut.

MayorGatan Vachonsaid the river seems to be recedingnow, but slowly.

"It went down a foot or two, but it does not go down quickly," he said. "In the space of six hours, it may have dropped by an inch."

In Scott,streets were closed and the city centre has beenparalyzed. Two hundred residences were evacuated Sunday morning. Mayor Clment Marcouxsaid he doesn't recall the flooding ever being this serious.

Touring areas ofGatineauhit by flooding on Monday, Quebec Premier Franois Legaultreiterated his government's new program to incentivizeQuebecers to move from flood-prone areas.

He said that the program, announced last week, would save taxpayers money in the long run.

"With global warming, these events are happening more often than in the past," he said.

"So we must be able to adjust our [compensation] program, and that's what we're doing."

• Quebec premier says province will cap flood compensation

Quebec is 'there and will be there' for its citizens

Quebec Public Security Minister Genevive Guilbault was out meeting with municipal and military officials near Trois-Rivires, Que., in Yamachiche on Monday.

"Our government is there and will be there," she assured the hundreds of residents who are or will be affected by flooding in the coming days as waters continue to rise in some areas.

"The safety of our citizens is our number 1 priority."

Guilbault encouraged residents to co-operate with authorities and leave their homes should a mandatory evacuation order be announced.

Respect their instructions, she said, and Quebec will be there to assist residents once the flooding subsides with its new reclamation program a program, she said, that allows residents to make claims faster than ever before.

No homes evacuated in Montreal yet

In Montreal, no buildings were evacuated overnight, according to Martin Guilbault, chief of operations at the Montreal fire department.

But that doesn't mean people can relax, he added, as more rain is on the way.

Dikes were put in place in high-risk areas and about 30 soldiers areon the island, offering assistance Monday to residents of le Bizard and the municipality of Sainte-Genevive.

"For us right now in Montreal, the situation is stable," MartinGuilbaultsaid. "We're monitoring every minute what's happening. We're still asking people to help us help them."

He said although there are temporary dams, people are being urged to put sandbags around their homes.

Guilbault said he has seen neighbours helping each otherand wants that community spirit maintained before the situation gets worse. With more rain on the way this week, the water could rise further, he added.

"Even if the water is not yet over the street, the water will come. It's important to prepare ourselves."

West of the city, officials in Rigaud, Que., have also been gearing up for what could be several days of high waters and flooding.

At this point,Rigaudfire ChiefDaniel Boyer hesitated to predict when the water would recede as there is more rain in the forecast this week.

He warned people to stay away from the murky, cold floodwater as there is still ice, branches and debris churning in the overflowing waterways.

Red Cross launches fundraiser

The Canadian Red Cross, with a website open for donations, has launched a disaster relief fund toadd to provincial help for residents.

Money from the online fundraiser will help residentsrebuildtheir homes, saidPascal Mathieu, vice-president of the Red Cross in Quebec.

• Quebec flooding: How to get help from the Red Cross

Red Cross relief centres have been set up in Gatineau, Laval, Montreal's Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough, Rigaud,Saint-Andr d'Argenteuil andSainte-Marie-de-Beauce.

Troops were on their way toSainte-Marie-de-Beauceon Monday afternoon.

"The authorities have saidthere are already hundreds of people affectedand the water continues to rise," said Mathieu.

"We know that among the families affected, there are those who really need additional help."

Approximately 4,000 volunteers have beentrained to offer comfort and lodging and provide food for those in need, and refer peopleto social services.

Volunteers in red jackets have been deployed for a week in Beauceville. Others are in Lvis, Saint-Raymond, Gatineau, Rigaud, Laval and Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

New Brunswick, Ontarioalso waterlogged

Quebec isn't the only province dealing with spring flooding.

In neighbouring New Brunswick, about 120 Canadian soldiershave beendeployed to help with sandbaggingin communities affected along the St. John River.

Fifty-five roads and bridges in the province are affected, with 36 of them either closed of partially closed.

Aerial view of the flooding in Ottawa and the Outaouais.

5 years ago

Duration 1:25

Aerial view of the flooding in Ottawa and the Outaouais.

In Ottawa, the Ottawa River is risingand the capital city has put out a call for volunteers to help shore up at-risk areas.

Environment Canada predicts temperatures in the teens for much of the week, with a chance of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The higher temperatures will accelerate the melting of thesnowpack,and could raise water levels along the Ottawa andGatineaurivers, authorities say.