Bourbonnais-Cumberland-Masson Ferries and the Lefaivre-Montebello ferry are closed until further notice.
As the water level continues to rise we are ceasing our operations tonight, Tuesday 2nd May at 10pm. Thank you to our entire team for doing a good job of making the necessary efforts to keep the ferries open during this flood, Traversiers Bourbonnais-Cumberland-Masson Ferries wrote on its Facebook page at the end of the day on Tuesday .
The company does not specify when the routes can reopen.
Bourbonnais-Cumberland-Masson ferries are closed until further notice.
Photo: Radio Canada / Nelly Alberola
Also on Monday, Traverse Montebello Ltd announced that it would cease operations from 6pm on May 1st.
The ferry service that connects Clarence to the township of Thurso also said on its website that it was closed due to flooding.
Several Gatineau families are asking for help
The effects of rising water are beginning to be felt in several sectors of the National Capital Region.
Given the situation, the city of Gatineau announced on Tuesday the opening of a disaster relief center at 89 rue Jean-René-Monette on Wednesday morning. The service will be accessible for as long as the need persists, the municipality said.
The effects of the rain of the past few days are still being felt in the region.
Photo: Radio Canada / Nelly Alberola
On Wednesday morning, Red Cross Vice President for Quebec Pascal Mathieu pointed out that 74 Gatineau families have received assistance so far, mostly with housing.
Of course, the flooding is significant this year, but not on the scale we experienced in 2017 and 2019. In addition, medication work was done. The city has carried out infrastructure works, there are families who were flooded in 2017-2019 and left the country, explained Mr. Mathieu, who says he has seen all the disasters in Quebec since 2013.
Pascal Mathieu is Vice President of the Quebec Red Cross.
Photo: Radio Canada
He agreed that the biggest challenge facing the Red Cross is finding accommodation for all citizens, as hotels are often full in times of flooding.
In some cases we can find hotels outside the city, but it’s not easy. There are children who go to school [de sorte que] this is not possible for all families. It’s a recurring challenge here at Gatineau.
The Union Bridge of the Chaudière Crossing was also completely closed to car and pedestrian traffic on Tuesday evening.
The Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité also closed Route 307 in both directions under the Draveurs Bridge and the access ramp to the A-50 eastbound from Route 307 at Gatineau.
Deal with the situation
Between discouragement and resilience, residents affected by the disaster are trying to organize. This is especially true for Sylvie Goneau.
In an interview on the program Les matins d’ici, the former councilor of the Bellevue district lives on Boulevard Hurtubise, an area particularly hard hit by the floods.
[La rue] is completely buried, even the riprap. The water exceeded predictions for a path created by the city for emergency vehicles, she described. This morning the water has risen high enough, we will try the kayaks. We haven’t reached the motorized boats yet, but it will make it easier to get there and back to get ashore. […] At the end of the day, I suspect the road will even be closed to emergency vehicles.
Floods: testimony of a resident of Boulevard Hurtubise
ICI PREMIÈRE SHOW • Les matins d’ici
Floods: testimony of a resident of Boulevard Hurtubise. 9-minute audio content, ICI Premiere broadcast. listen to audio.
Duration of 9 minutes08:46
Ms. Goneau experienced such a situation back in 2017. At that time she had to rebuild her house after the heavy floods of that year.
“I agree with the government that we shouldn’t build new houses, but for those that are already installed and established, let’s build the land […] and adapt to new realities. »
— A quote from Sylvie Goneau, resident of Rue Hurtubise and former councillor
It stays with you, the body remembers, it’s very difficult to live with the city’s announcements because – and it’s not their fault – they are very alarming. […] Having falling rocks, trucks, machines, that creates trauma, creates a certain fear, she explained, encouraging those affected to seek psychological help to cope with the situation.
The flooding makes travel difficult in certain areas.
Photo: Radio Canada / Mateo Garcia-Tremblay
However, moving is out of the question for her, especially since her house is protected against flooding.
This country here is part of my family. It’s intergenerational, I’m a resident by birth. […] Once the government gives people the tools they need to protect themselves and secure living on an island once a year, it really isn’t the end of the world as long as we’re able to come back and get out, she said. After that, life will return to normal.
Communities on alert
In eastern Ontario, Clarence-Rockland Mayor Mario Zanth admitted the situation remains worrying, but there is no indication that water levels will match those seen in 2017 and 2019.
It is estimated that the level could rise another foot by Friday. Everything under control. We continue to pay attention to the needs of affected citizens.
In Outaouais, the Mayor of Mansfield-et-Pontefract, Sandra Armstrong, mentioned that the current water level is 108.53 cm, exceeding the 2017 level.
Fort-Coulonge Mayor Christine Francoeur also confirmed to Radio-Canada that her community topped their 2017 stats by quite a bit.
In 2017 it was 108.52 cm and today we are at 108.60 cm. We bought another pump [mercredi] Morning, [car il y avait] too much pressure on the waste water pond.
With information from Claudine Richard and Camille Kasisi-Monet