Red Cross opens flood emergency centers, Gatineau braces for flooding as water levels rise
Djeneb Dosso
Since 5 pm on April 17, Gatineau reported the Ottawa river water levels increased by 16 cm and 6 cm for the Gatineau River. This indicated an increase of 1 cm per hour. The peak of the spring melt and flooding is expected between Wednesday April 19 and Friday April 21. Water levels are expected to remain high for several days following peak levels.
Gatineau predicts approximately 1,049 properties will be affected by water and 254 buildings are at risk of flooding.
Gatineau is high risk, specifically rue Jacques-Cartier East and West, rue Riviera, rue Glaude, rue Saint-Patrice and rue Saint-Paul as well as blvd, Hurtubise East and West, rue Campeau and rue de Versailles. Another zone at risk is the section between the highway and rue Moreau along with rue Adélard.
Masson-Angers sector is also high risk especially chemin du Fer-à-Cheval and rue du Ruisseau. In Aylmer, in Wychwood and Fraser the levels are not high risk but Gatineau is monitoring these areas.
Crews are deployed and monitoring the situation, and Gatineau is in contact with the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Commission (ORRPB) to stay informed on flooding's consequences. Three sandbag machines are operating and can fill up to 15,000 bags per day.
Sandbags will be distributed to various locations as well as bulk sand and empty bags. Gatineau asks residents to only take what they need so everyone can prepare for the floods Proof of residency is required to take sandbags:
- Louis-Roy Park on Louis-Roy Street
- Intersections of Campeau and Hurtubise streets
- Intersection of Versailles and Watt streets
- The intersections of Saint-Sauveur and Saint-Denis streets
- The municipal parking lot at La Baie Park
- The parking lot of the Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf community center on Moreau Street
- Chemin du Quai at the boat launch
The city asks residents to remain vigilant and keep security measures in place even as water levels stabilize as the situation can evolve quickly depending on weather.
On April 18, Gatineau started riprapping Hurtubise Street East and West and continued this process on April 19 on Chemin du Fer-à-Cheval. This process is adding rocky material along an area to protect them from erosion.
April 19, community centers in the flooding zone closed to be operated by the Red Cross as flood emergency centers.
Some buildings may close in affected areas and electricity may be cut off as a precautionary measure. Individuals can find the list at gatineau.ca/flood.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for text message and email alerts through the Gatineau website gatineau.ca/flood. Those who need psycho-social support can call 811 for free and confidential phone consultation at any time of day.
If needed, Gatineau states that they are prepared to open disaster centres.