Maniwaki long-term care home to be evacuated due to floods

A long-term care homeinManiwaki, Que., will be evacuated todaydue to increased flooding in the area, forcing 67 residents out of their homes.

The evacuation of theFoyer Pre-Guinardis a precautionary measure to ensure residents' safetyas water levels remain high, the Centres intgrs de sant et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais(CISSSO) said.

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The health authoritysaid itnotified residents and their families Sunday afternoon. Theevacuation will begin Monday afternoon and continue into Tuesday.

The building has not yet been damaged by the floods,CISSSO spokespersonPatricia Rhaumetold Radio-Canada.

Care home also evacuated in 2017

The same building was evacuated during the 2017 floods, forcing 60 residents to leave their homes.

Residents were unable return until the first week of June that year because the risk of flooding persisted.

That year, residents weremoved to 13 different locations, including the Maniwaki Hospital, long-term care homes in Gatineau, and theRsidence Jean-Bosco. Some peoplemoved in with their families as well.

In an earlierinterview withRadio-Canada in April, Gracefield, Que., Mayor Ral Rochon said his municipality was ready to accommodate the residents of Foyer Pre-Guinard in the event of an evacuation this year.