Quebec enlists Canadian Forces in fight against rising floodwaters

Unrelenting rain is worsening a flood crisis in Central Canada that has already forced Quebec to call in military aid.

The Quebec government says the Canadian Forces have been enlisted to help battle the floodwaters in that province, where the storm has beenmost severe.

• From CBC Montreal:Quebecreceived more rain last night than the whole month of May 2016

The troops are headed to Gatineau, Laval, Rigaudand the Mauricie region of Quebec. Another unit will be set up as a command post in Montreal. In total, between 350 and 400 military personnel have been deployed.

Hundreds abandon their homes

More than 120Quebec communities have been hit by flooding and 857 people have been asked to leave their homes, according to Quebec authorities. More than 1,500 homes are flooded and 340 roads have been affected.

Environment Canada says a massive system isslowly drenching much of Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Record precipitation levelshave threatened to trigger widespread flooding in those areas.

Rainfall advisories werelifted for the large urban areas of Montreal and Toronto early Saturday, but arestill in place in eastern Ontario (including Kingston and Ottawa), parts of Quebec and most of New Brunswick.

• From CBC Toronto: Mayorsays homes on Toronto Islands 'potentially in jeopardy'

Rainfall amounts could range as high as 90 millimetres in Kingston,130 millimetres fromSept-les to Natashquan, Que., and 100 millimetres in southwestern New Brunswick.

A special weather statement says much of Nova Scotia could see close to 50 millimetres of rain.

Bridge closure

In Montreal, a rehabilitation centre and a 76-unit condo have both been evacuated due to the swellingRiviredes Prairies.

Residents of the rehab centre have been taken to other health-care centres, where they'll stay for the next three weeks.

le Mercier, an island of some 50 propertiesin Montreal, is completely underwater and has been under an evacuation order since Wednesday.

Montreal MayorDenisCoderresays the city may have to consider forcibly removing the 20 or so householderswho have refused to leave, even as the only bridge connecting it to the rest of the city was shut down.

In Gatineau, Que., near Ottawa, around 400people have been forced out of more than 200homes as the Ottawa River rises.

• From CBC Ottawa:More Gatineau residents leaving homes as they await flood relief from military

Homeowner Jonathan Brennantold CBC News he'd been working since Monday to prevent his property from being flooded.

"Right now, I had to make a decision between pumping outside of my wall that I made or just take care of my basement," he said. "Because people didn't have a chance to prepare, there is old people around, there are abandoned houses ... If we had help from the army earlier, probably I wouldn't be like this right now.

"It's not that I failed, but I tried so hard. I don't know what to do anymore."

Flooding in Pierrefonds seen from above

7 years ago

Duration 0:54

This is what Pierrefonds looks like from above as flooding continues to plague some parts of Quebec. Submitted by Daniel Meli.

State of emergency

On the other side of the river, the Ontario community of Clarence-Rockland declared a state of emergency in anticipation of continuing heavy rain.

The area's Chief Administrative Officer, Helen Collier, briefedresidents Saturday, explaining that drinking water is safe but well water is not.

Electricity was cut off on one road wherea house was floating away, tethered only by power lines, the mayor said.

There have also been states of emergency declared in Gracefield,Pontiac and Oka.

Quebec's Minister of Public Security, Martin Coiteau, said that members of the Armed Forces have now joined municipal services, fire departments, police and civil security services in the relief effort.

Quebec's Environment Minister, David Heurtel,said on Friday that the rain forecast is"beyond the worst scenarios that have occurred in the last 55 years."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the federal government was ready to do whatever it can to help people deal with the floodingand its cleanup.

A month's worth of rain

In New Brunswick, emergency officials are concerned about waterlevels and keeping a close eye on rivers and streams, including the St. John River.

• From CBC New Brunswick:Heavy rain worsens flood conditions

In the southwestern part of the province, residents were warnedthat nearly a month's worth of rain was expected to fall in 24 hours.

CBC meteorologist Kalin Mitchell said the the rain would continue overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning. Some areas had already seen 50 mm by midday Saturday.

'I've never seen the lake come this close'

In their lakeshore home in Stoney Creek, Ont. on Friday, LeeAnn Lemayand Toni Burke peered out throughthe back window asthewaves from Lake Ontario crashed over theretaining wall onto their small backyard.

Heavyrain has fuelledthe high lake levels,sparkingconcernsaboutflooding and damageamong some southern Ontariohomeowners whose houses hug the shoreline of the lake.

"I've never seen the lake come this close to the house," said Burke, who has lived in the area, located just outside of Hamilton,for over 40 years. "I have seen storms like this, but the lake wasn't so high.

"Thewater goes directly right across the street. So both sides of thestreetget it, it's not just the lakefront."

Next door to Lemay and Burke, the housebuilt much closer to the shoretookthe full brunt of thewaves, as the overflow from Lake Ontariocreptintothe front yard, flooding the whole area.

"Worst we've everseen, absolute worst we've everseen," saidLemay. "I'm concerned about our wall staying sturdy."

Lake Ontario's water levels are the highest they've been since 1993.

• Why is it flooding across Eastern Canada?

BillChornomaz, who works out of a home on the same street as Burke and Lemay,said water has already begun to leak inside.

"People are going to be experiencing flooding, no doubt," he said. "There will be basement flooding for sure."

Look at your insurance policy

When it comes to flooding, it would seem that many Canadians are unprepared. The University of Waterloo surveyed 2,300 homeowners who live in areas designated as high-risk flood areas. Butnearly all (94 per cent) were unawareof thatrisk.

The study also found thatthose surveyed did not knowrecent government policy changes putthe onus on homeowners to insure their homes specifically for flooding.

• How to cope when your stress levels rise with floodwaters
• Why your insurance likely won't protect you if your basement floods

"Canadians pay $600 million out of pocket for flood damage every year," JasonThistlethwaite, an assistant professor at the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development at the University ofWaterloo, said in a statement.

"With disaster-assistance costs expected to double over the next five years, homeowners can't afford to remain in the dark about their options and responsibilities."

'I tried so hard': Emotional Gatineau man on fight against floodwaters

7 years ago

Duration 3:06

CBC's Amanda Pfeffer speaks with a resident of Gatineau, Que., who has been trying to protect his home from floodwaters since Monday