Residents and business owners in the lowlands near the Gatineau River should make sure their property is ready for a significant increase in the river’s water level in the coming days, says the mayor of Gatineau, Que.
The warning comes as Hydro-Québec is releasing more water upstream from its Baskatong reservoir north of Maniwaki, Que.
“Citizens need to be prepared and do what they have to do, because they do have a responsibility,” Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle told a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
The reservoir, according to the company, is at full capacity due to the combination of the spring runoff and the heavy rains of the last two weeks, which poses a risk to the hydroelectric dam that feeds the reservoir.
Maniwaki, about 125 miles north of Gatineau, began flooding about a week ago and Gracefield, Que., Has continued.
Rain warnings
The amount of water released by Hydro-Québec depends on the amount of rain that falls over the next few days.
The upstream communities of Gatineau are under a warning of rain that says it is likely to rain between 40 and 60 millimeters and that up to 75 mm is possible on Friday evening.
Water levels in Gatineau are expected to start rising on Thursday and peak on Saturday.
Belisle said his city has set up stations for residents to collect sandbags and for staff members to work with the Red Cross in case residents need to evacuate.
“The city is ready, we’re working, we’re in the countryside,” Belisle said.
Gatineau City Council workers place sandbags around a bomb on rue Saint-Louis in anticipation of rising water levels on the Gatineau River. (Giacomo Panico / CBC)
The same areas flooded in 2017 and 2019
The area facing the greatest flood threat, according to Gatineau officials, is between the Alonzo-Wright Bridge and Rue Moreau.
For Suzanne Quesnel and many of her neighbors on the rue Adélard in the Pointe-Gatineau district, this is the third time in six years that they have had to fill sandbags to try to contain the river.
“It’s very stressful to live here every spring,” Quesnel said. “I have PTSD practically from January to June. I don’t sleep. You keep waiting for the water.”
Gatineau City Council has installed sand stations for residents. (Christian Milette / Radio-Canada)
Quesnel, which has been on the streets since 1993, remained after the floods of 2017 and 2019, which caused millions of dollars in damage to the area.
If your home suffers significant damage, it could be the drop that puts the drop.
“Hopefully this year the province will allow us to destroy the house and leave,” he said. “We’ve wanted it since 2017, but we never met the requirements to leave.”
Ottawa Morning10: 11 Rain warnings, Gatineau River Rise Has More Residents Ready for Floods
Residents and business owners in the lowlands near the Gatineau River should make sure their property is ready for a significant increase in the river’s water level in the coming days, says the mayor of Gatineau, Que.
During his press conference, Belisle addressed the weight that this latest round of flooding is likely to have on people’s mental health and urged affected residents to seek help if necessary.
“I know it’s hard and I know a lot of our citizens have gone through a lot of things in the last few years,” Belisle said.
“They have to act, but they certainly can’t underestimate the mental situation they’re going through.”
The area under flood warning suffered significant flood damage in 2017 and again in 2019. (Giacomo Panico / CBC)