Floods 2019: Communities under a state of emergency

As river levels continue to rise across much of eastern Ontario and western Quebec, anumber of communities have declared states of emergency to help mobilize provincial and federal resources.

Ottawa River levels have or are expected to surpass those of May 2017 and won't peak until Tuesday or Wednesday.

• Frustration builds as Ottawa River expected to rise this weekend

Ontario

Ottawa

The City of Ottawa declared a state of emergency on Thursday and asked both the Ontario and federal governments for assistance.

Canadian Armed Forces members descended on the city the next day to help sandbag people's homes and critical municipal infrastructure.

As of Saturday afternoon, nearly 20 homes had already been evacuated because of severe flooding, according to the City of Ottawa.

• Ottawa declares state of emergency as water keeps rising
• Ottawa residents could be asked to leave homes over flood risk

Clarence-Rockland

Downstream and east of Ottawa, theCity of Clarence-Rockland also declared a state of emergency on Friday as river levels are set to rise 40 to 50 centimetres above 2017 levels.

Parts of the city were hard hit in 2017, with entire streets turning into canals.

Canadian Armed Forces troops were set to arrive in the area Sunday to help sandbag.

• Army prepares to move into Clarence-Rockland Sunday

Alfred and Plantagenet

Following Ottawa and Clarence-Rockland, the Township of Alfred and Plantagenetdeclared a state of emergency Saturday morning.

Residents are being told to pick up needed sandbags at the Municipal Garage at 1963 Hotel de Ville St. in Lefaivre, Ont.

HortonTownship

The township in Renfrew County that borders the Ottawa River declared a state of emergency early Friday morning.

Sandbags and sand are available for residents at the HortonSand Dome, 2253 Johnston Rd. or people can call the municipality directly to have them delivered.

McNab/Braeside

The small township of fewer than 8,000 people nestled in betweenArnprior and Renfrewin Renfrew County declared a state of emergency on Friday.

Hydro One crews were on the ground to help residents with power-related concerns, according to the township.

Whitewater Township

Anyone needing sandbags in the area can pick them up at 1798 Westmeath Rd. and sand is being deposited at various sites, the township said.

Officials are urging people to have 72-hour emergency kits available with enough food and water for that time.

Laurentian Valley

Township of Laurentian ValleyMayor Steve Bennettdeclared a state of emergency Saturday night as water levels continued to rise.

Residents can fill sandbags at George Matheson Park, 630 Forest Park Rd.

Township of Greater Madawaska

The township is warning residents that flooded roads may affect evacuation efforts and not to drive into areas that could become impassable. Sand and sandbags are available for residents who need them at threelocations:Griffith Fire Hall, 25991B Highway 41, Griffith; Old Brougham Yard, 145 Flat Rd.;Calabogie Fire Hall, 12470B Lanark Rd.

County of Renfrew

The county is under a flood warning and declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon.

The county extends from Arnprior in the east, to north of Algonquin Park and encompassesthe five municipalities above that have already declared states of emergency: Horton Township, McNab/Braeside, Whitewater Township,Laurentian Valley, and Greater Madawaska.

The countyhas tocontend with three major river watersheds: the Ottawa, Bonnechereand Madawaska Rivers, all of which are at high or record-high levels.

Petawawa

Mayor Bob Sweet declared a state of emergency on Sunday afternoon.

The town has closed Centennial Park on the Petawawa River and PetawawaPoint where that river meets the Ottawa River.

Rantz Road is closed near Highway 17 and River Drive is open to local traffic only.

Quebec

Papineauville

Downstream of Gatineau, Papineauville declared a state of emergency on Friday. Nearly a dozen areas are isolated and in immediate danger of flooding, the municipality said.

The declaration will be in place until at least Wednesday, but it could be extended, Mayor Christian Beauchamp told Radio-Canada.

• Western Quebec communities hit hard by flooding

Val-des-Monts

Val-des-Monts declared a state of emergency more than a week ago, on April 19.

The area has already seen significant flooding and troops began helping fill sandbags Thursday.

Residents who still need sandbags can visit the municipal garage at 1570 route du Carrefour.

• 3 Outaouais municipalities declare states of emergency

Pontiac

TheMunicipality of Pontiac suffered severe flooding and tragedy early on when a 72-year-old woman died after she drove off a washed-out road early in the morning on April 20.

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Around 500 homes may have to be evacuated, Mayor Joanne Labadie said. Some of those residents may be able to stay atthe TimHortonCampdesVoyageurs inQuyon,Que. which has space for 108 people.

• Evacuations continue in Pontiac as hundreds of homes threatened

Grenville-sur-la-Rouge

The municipality is doubly affected by flooding, sitting at the base of where the Rouge River meets the Ottawa River.

It is also 23 kilometres downstream of the Bell Fallsand a damQuebec's Public SecurityMinister Genevive Guilbault said was in imminent danger of failing on Thursday. A day later, Mayor Tom Arnold declared a state of emergency.

• With Quebec dam at risk of failing, evacuation ordered on Rouge River in western Laurentians

The dam has so far held up, despite a nearly ninefoldincrease in water flowing over the falls.

Boileau

On Wednesday, the municipality declared a state of emergency that was set to last five days. As of Sunday afternoon, there was no information on whether the state of emergency had been extended.

Mayo

The community on the edge of LacLa Blanche has already experienced flooded roads. Quebec's transportation ministry closed a section of Chemin Rivire Blanche in the area because the road had deteriorated, according to the municipality.

Residents living along that stretch of road were urged to evacuate.

Saint-Andr-Avellin

More than 200 people have left 51 homes, said MayorJean-Ren CarrireMonday.

He pointed out the bridge on rue Principale is still unusable, dividing the community in two.

Low

There is a public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 4 chemin d'Amour.

All roads have at least one lane available to traffic, the municipality said Monday.

Gracefield

This community north of Gatineau hasclosed several streets.

Duhamel

The community north of Montebellois thanking volunteers and officials who worked through the weekend to fill sandbags, saying water levels are expected to drop in the next few days.