80 mm of rain expected between Friday and Saturday evening and water levels still rising
Soldiers from the Canadian Forces are expected to be on the ground on Saturday, helping prevent damage from the relentless flooding in Quebec.
Yesterday the province’s Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux said the province asked for and will receive assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces to deal with rising water levels.
Despite a Saturday morning lull in rainfall in some parts of Quebec, water levels are rising still and the flooding situation is expected to worsen.
According to Environment Canada, between Friday and Saturday evening, up to 80 millimetres of rain will have fallen in the Ottawa River and that water is headed downstream towards Montreal. “It usually takes a few days for all of that precipitation to increase the water level of those rivers,” said Bruno Marquis, Environment Canada meteorologist.
So far, 124 municipalities across the province are dealing with flooding, in the regions of Montreal, Laval, the Montérégie, Mauricie, Lanaudière and the Laurentians.
“We think it’s very appropriate to ask for additional resources, additional efforts from the armed forces and I’m very happy that we had the entire collaboration of the federal government in this respect,” said Coiteux.
Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says the army will work with local authorities to coordinate relief efforts.
Source: CBC
