Gasp flood victims to get emergency funding

Flood victims in Quebec's Gasp region will be able to access emergency relief money as they clean up from torrential rains that flooded homes and washed out roads this week.

Public Security Minister Robert Dutil made the announcement on Friday after a helicopter tour of the worst-hit areas around the town of Gasp.

Victims will be able to tap into a maximum of $100,000 in compensation for losses to their homes and businesses.

"We need to be certain that everything is done to ensure the safety of the population touched by this disaster," Dutil told reporters in the town of Gasp.

Dutil acknowledged that the emergency funding will not cover all costs, especially for those who will be forced to rebuild or move.

Hedid not rule out additional compensation as the extent of the damage becomes better understood in the coming days.

"We have not closed the door to other measures," he said.

About250 millimetres of rainfell over the region over the last three days.By midday Thursday,rain hadfinally stopped, bringing welcome relief to thousands of residents.

State of emergency in effect

The Quebecgovernment has declared a state of emergency across the entire Gasp region.

Along the Gasp peninsula there are close to 250 people who still can't return homebecause of flooding.

On Thursday, about 150people were staying in emergency shelters in Gasp and nearby Rivire-au-Rnard.

About 50 homes had to be evacuated as waters rose in the town of Chandler, farther south along the peninsula's eastern coast.

The Public Security ministry said just about every river in the region is either flooded or threatening to overflow its banks.

Water has submerged roads, leaving abandoned cars and long stretches of washed-out pavement, including along the region's main thoroughfare, Highway 132, near New Richmond.

Gasp resident Marius Dub was directing traffic around a damaged road as he waited for provincial police to arrive on the scene.

"This is incredible. We saw the road split in two. If someone drives over there, they are going to fall in," said Dub.

Region known for flooding

The area around the town of Gasp has seen its fair share of disastrous flooding, with the 2007 Rivire-au-Renard flash floods still fresh in people's minds.

Two people died as a result, and the damage reached into the millions of dollars.

In the subsequent years, many homes in low-lying areas were moved to higher ground, including the home of Marie-Claude Samuel.

"When I went down this morning, when I saw Rue du Banc, I was just like, 'Oh no.' All of the memories came back," she said.

'I was just like, 'Oh no.' All of the memories came back.' Marie-Claude Samuel, Gasp resident

Former Gasp city councillor Brad MacDonald credits residents for being extra cautious and getting out of harm's way this time around.

"Most of them have the 2007 floods in their minds, so they're more than willing to leave and take the necessities and come back later when it's deemed safe," he said.

Many residents are now worried about what will happen if the temperatures drop below zero before the water has time to recede.

Environment Canada says there's no rain in the forecast for the next few days, but high tides arepredicted for next week, and officials say it's still too soon to tell if those tides will do any damage.

"I just want the rain to stop. We will do what we have to do. But I think for now, the only wish we have is to have sun sometime soon," said Samuel.

Ministers pledge help now, in future

Nathalie Normandeau, the MNA for Bonaventure and the province's deputy premier, said she has been blown away by the widespread nature of the flooding.

"We have never seen a level of precipitation like we have seen here, or the amount of flooding," she said, following the helicopter tour Thursday.

Her colleague, Gasp MNA Georges Mamelonet, said the government will be with theflood victims every step of the way.

"We have realized that with just days before Christmas, there will be many people who will have a very difficult Christmas. We are very sensitive to that," he said.