2019 floods: What you need to know on Friday

With theOttawa River at its peak across the capital, the City of Ottawa says it needs fewer volunteers to help out.

The welcome news came Thursday afternoon, although officialscautioned it could still take some time for the waters to recede.

Even before that news, the city was alreadyencouraging stressed-out volunteers to take a much-needed restso that they don't burn out.

A limited number of volunteers willstill be needed today and on the weekend, but it's expected they won't have to addto sandbag piles.

Water levels

• The Ottawa River Regulating Committee puts out a flood forecast at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

Road closures

• The Chaudire Bridge over the Ottawa River has been closed indefinitely due to high water levels.
• Westbound Highway 50 no longer has flood-related lane reductions, though the rue Saint-Louis ramps are still closed.
• Rising waters have closed or reduced the capacity of several streets and highways in the Ottawa-Gatineau area.
• The National Capital Commission has also closed some westbound lanes on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway.

How to volunteer

The city has temporarily closed the volunteercentres in the central and eastern areas, leaving only the Dunrobin Community Centre open.

From Friday until Sunday, the city will be accepting a limited number of volunteers there, and will be announcing on social media when enough people have signed up to help.

There are alsoother ways you can help.

How to donate

The City of Gatineau has opened a donationcentre at Les Promenades Gatineau on boulevard Maloney Ouest, and it operatesfrom 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

It's looking for non-perishable food, cleaning products, personal hygiene products and clean spring and summer clothes.

The Canadian Red Cross is also collecting money for flood victims.

Emergency assistance

The City of Ottawa hasopened three emergency community support centres to help those affected by flooding, at the following locations:

• West Carleton-March Community Support Centre isat the Constance and Buckham's Bay Community Centre at262 Len Purcell Dr.,open 24 hours a day.
• Bay Community Support Centre at the Pinecrest Recreation Complex's Barbara Ann Scott Arena, 2250 TorquayAve., open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Cumberland Community Support Centre at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum at2940 Old Montreal Rd.,open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The City of Gatineau has opened two flood assistance centres where residents can register for help.

• Centre communautaireJean-Ren-Monette, 89rue Jean-Ren-Monette.
• Masson-Angers service centre, 57 cheminMontral Est.

The Canadian Red Cross has set up a family reunification information line. Residents can call 1-855-797-8875 from 9 a.m. to midnight.

Sandbags

• More than 1.5million sandbags have been filled in Ottawaso far, which it says should be enough to fill the need for the rest of the flood. They're available at 25 locations across the city.
• There are 12 places in Gatineau where you can get sandbags. Nearly 900,000 of them have been given out.

Water concerns

Ottawans who get drinkingwater from wells should stop using their wellif floodwaters have covered it,or if they expect it'sbeen contaminated.

Bottled water and hand sanitizer is available from the fire station at 341 BayviewDr., between 12 and 7 p.m., or there are water stations at 5201 Canon Smith Dr., 274 Morris Island Dr., and the intersection of Greenland Road and Armitage Avenue, all in the west end.

Residents on the northern end of Churchill Avenue are no longer being asked not to use their water due to strain on the sanitary sewer system, but are still asked to minimize their use.

For areas not mentioned above, check with your municipality for information.