With floodwaters receding, Quebec victims now focused on compensation, cleanup

While thousands of Quebecers are still out of their homes, the flooding situation across the province is improving as water levels fall.

For many flood victims, their attention is now focused on compensation and cleaning up.

But some say the compensation being offered by the province doesn't go far enough.

"They are decidingwhat's essential to your home," said Matt Foley, whose Laval home was flooded.

"They're saying if you have a living room upstairs, your living room downstairs is not essential ... even if that's where you spent all your time."

Homeowners are also beingwarned to do their due diligenceto make sure they don't get duped as contractors begin to go door-to-door in the hardest-hit areas.

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Rigaudto allowsome homeowners to return

The provincial government will hold more information sessions for flooding victims this week, with a stopin Pontiactonight at 6:00 p.m. in English and 7:30 p.m. in French, at theLuskvillecommunity centre on Highway 148.

InRigaud,information sessions also take place today,at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at thePaul-Brasseurbuilding,10 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Street East.

Quebec's Public Security Ministry is also setting up a temporary office at the Paul-Brasseur building,where homeowners can speak with a representative and file acompensation claim.

Authorities in Rigaud areplanning to allowsome of the 500 peopleforced from their homesby floodwaters to return totheir residences.

Thosehomes will still need to undergo aninspection to determine if they are safe to live in.Theinspections will take place on Tuesday.

Water levels going down provincewide

Conditions for all the cities and towns along the Ottawa River and Lake of Two Mountains have significantly improved. Montreal opted to lift its state of emergency yesterday.

Though water levels are going down in the Mauricie region, authorities there are still on high alert.

The water levels are still high, and the impact of the weekend rain may only truly be known over the next few days.

The community of Yamachiche extended its state of emergency for another five days Sunday.