Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre declared a state of emergency in Montreal due to flooding.
He made the announcement at a press conference on Sunday afternoon.
The state of emergency will remain in place for 48 hours, at which point the situation will be re-evaluated.
“I’ve signed the official papers, so for 48 hours, director Bruno Lachance will have all the extraordinary powers to take the decision for resources,” Coderre said.
The decree also grants the city the power to order mandatory evacuations.
“If we need to evacuate, it’s an order to evacuate,” Coderre added.
The affected boroughs include, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, as well as the town of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, and Senneville.
READ MORE: West Island schools closed due to ongoing flooding
After touring several flooded communities Saturday, Coderre appealed to the army for additional support.
On Sunday, troops were on the ground in Pierrefonds helping firefighters and other emergency responders with flood response.
The army personnel were part of a contingent of 400 soldiers deployed to the western and central part of the province Saturday as high water threatened hundreds of residences.
READ MORE: Canadian Forces dispatch 400 troops to help with Quebec floods
The Canadian forces announced Sunday it would double its staff to help flood victims in Quebec, where nearly 1,900 homes are flooded in 126 municipalities.
Sandbagging and reinforcing dikes was a top priority in Pierrefonds, after overnight breaches were reported in at least three dikes, causing flooding along the Rivière des Prairies.
The river could rise another 20 cm during the day Sunday, which would worsen the situation.
While Coderre may have declared a state of emergency, he maintained the situation was under control.
READ MORE: What to do if you’re living in a neighborhood affected by the flooding
Residents in need of assistance, or information, are being asked to call 311.
The phone service was interrupted for several hours this morning due to technical difficulties, but has since been restored.
READ MORE: Canadians continue to battle floodwaters from coast to coast
To keep abreast of the situation, officials are urging residents to consult their municipality’s website.
Additionally, Quebec residents can call 511 for traffic updates and road closures. Those in need of psychological support can dial 811 or 911 in case of an emergency.
Montreal is not the only municipality to have declared a state of emergency.
Earlier in the day, the flood-stricken town of Rigaud ordered the mandatory evacuation of residents in affected areas after declaring its second state of emergency in recent weeks.
READ MORE: Rigaud mayor declares state of emergency, issues mandatory evacuation order
Laval Mayor Marc Demers also declared a local state of emergency.
In doing so, the mayor hoped to have access to more resources to help deal with what officials are calling an unprecedented situation.
So far, 33 homes — mostly located on Île-Verte and Île-Roussin — have been evacuated, while 150 residences have flooded basements.
Driving in the affected areas is also difficult, with flooding on some 80 streets. The situation there will be re-evaluated Monday morning.
–With files from the Canadian Press
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