Gasp starts flood cleanup as water levels drop

Water levels across flooded regions of Quebec's Gasp Peninsula are dropping as local officials move from rescue operations to a massive cleanup.

About 100 people remained out of their homes Friday, four days after torrential rains began pounding the region, causing widespread flooding.

However, for the first time in days, officials had encouraging words as they announced the water was receding. This is allowingsome roads to reopen and permitting the return of the first families back into their houses, particularly around the hard-hit area in the town of Gasp andRivire-au-Renard.

Gasp Mayor Franois Roussy said now that the weather has improved, the next phase can begin.

'Once the shock has passed and the adrenalin goes down, people are able to see the extent of the damage that has been caused.' Franois Roussy, Gasp mayor

"It's clear now that we're moving into the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase," he told reporters. "The good news is that the water has gone down significantly."

However, time is not on the side of the communities. With freezing temperatures in the forecast for coming days, everyone in the Gasp needs to get to work, Roussy said.

"People are obviously in distress," he said. "But once the shock has passed and the adrenalin goes down, people are able to see the extent of the damage that has been caused.

"That is when they really need support, when they really need people to provide concrete solutions. That is exactly what the municipality intends to do."

Roussy called on residents to remove all the water-damaged material from their basements and put it on the street to be picked up by municipal workers.

"We will take away all the debris, and in partnership or through financial assistance from the government, we will be able to remove all of that," he said.

Contaminated tap water

Meanwhile, many residents still do not have access to clean tap water.

Officials are advising residents to boil their water for five minutes before drinking it or purchase bottled water.

Gwen Jezni lives, whowith her elderly uncle in the Wakeham district of Gasp,saidher well was contaminated by mud and debris.

"It looks like in-between grey, agrey and an orangey mixture," she said. "If you run your water and let it settle, you can see little things going to the bottom, perhaps maybe like coffee that's been diluted."

Jezni won't drink the water even after boiling, so she is relying on bottled water.

Officials said the water supply should be back to normal by next week.

MP promises help from Ottawa

A state of emergency remains in effect for the region, after it received more than 240 millimetres of rain earlier in the week.

Liberal MP Denis Lebel visited the peninsula on Friday, promising the federal government would open up access to its emergency compensation program.

"We're all determined to find solutions through the available programs," Lebel said. "The Canadian government is here to support people in the region."

The Quebec government is making up to $100,000 available to qualifying home and business owners to repair damaged property.

However, local officials have called on both levels of government to pitch in additional funding beyond the regular relief programs.