Flooding prompts evacuations, road closures in Gatineau

Significant rainfall has floodeddozens of streets in Gatineau and firefighters were goingdoor to door Tuesday morning east of Pointe-Gatineau asking people to evacuate their homes.

As of 7 a.m., nearly 20 streets were closed and firefighters had visited approximately 300 homes.

The affected streets are impassible but the evacuations are voluntary at the moment, said City of Gatineau spokesperson YvesMelanon.

"We've actually reached some of the water levels [as] last week," Melanon said.

• Firefighters recommend some Gatineau residents leave homes due to flooding

"With what's expected by Wednesdayor Thursdaywe can expect even more... We just want to make sure people are aware that they have options."

Centre openfor displaced residents

Gatineau re-openedJean-Ren-Monettecommunity centre as shelter for displaced residents. The STO is offering ashuttle service to the centre for anyone who needs it.

Melanon saidthe city is monitoring flooded and potentially flooded areas and leaving open the possibility of closing more streets.

"The water level is rising because of the melting of the snow and the ice and the rain we've been receiving over the last 48 hours," Melanon said.

City workers prepared 12,000 sandbags and delivered them to pickup locations around Gatineau.

Firefighters use boats to reach residents

Gatineaufirefighters brought Elizabeth Smith and her dog Peaches to safety Tuesday after Smith's sump pump broke.

"The water got too high and the pump broke overnight," Smith said.

She had about 25 centimetres of water in her basement when she and her dogboarded the boat firefighters brought to her flooded home in the area of Rue Saint-Louis.

Alain Lepage, who lives near the intersection of Rue Saint-Louis and RueBlais, said the flooding isthe worst he's seen in 15 years.

Firefighters visited his home Tuesday to drop off information pamphlets. They instructed residentsto pack some clothes and belongings in case the situation worsened.

"I'm hoping for the best," Lepage said as he stacked sandbags around his home.

Lepage said he doesn't plan to leave quiteyet. His basement had about four centimetres of water in it, buthis sump pump was still working.

"So far I'm OK," he said.

Hydro Mto, which monitors water levels in Quebec, says the Outaouais is one of the areas most affected by flooding in the province.

An updated list of streets and pathways that are affected by flooding is availablehere.