A number of communities across Quebec were dealing with flooding or the threat of flooding on Monday as rivers have been swollen by spring thaws and heavy rains throughout the province.
In Drummondville, which is located about 100 kilometers east of Montreal, has been dealing with an overflowing Saint-François River which the evacuation of as many as 300 buildings in flood zones by local authorities.
“In the face of the continuous rise of the waters of the Saint-Francois River, the Municipal Civil Security Organization of Drummondville (OMSCD) asks all citizens and citizens residing in a flood zone to evacuate immediately,” the city said on its Facebook page at around 11:30 a.m.
“Several roads are now impassable due to flooding, including areas of Allard Boulevard and Hemming Road. Respect the signs in place and take the designated detours.”
Area officials said the river had been moving at a rate of five times its normal speed.
VIA Rail was also forced to cancel a number of train trips between Quebec City and Montreal as tracks in the area of Drummondville had been flooded.
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Further east in Beauceville, a community in which the Chaudière River runs through, a number of people had been evacuated due to flooding in the area.
“About 10 victims were accommodated in a shelter,” Public Security Minister François Bonnardel said on X.
“Public Security teams will remain on the lookout and continue to support municipal teams over the coming hours and days.
On Sunday night, an ice jam formed in the downtown area of the small municipality of about 6,000 people, causing the river to rapidly rise and burst its banks.
The municipality, which is about 85 kilometres south of Quebec City, has seen a number of roads and schools close as a result of the flooding.
“We are on the verge of major flooding, roads are closed, due to flooding (Renault Boulevard/Rte 173, Lambert Ave north south and bridge route 108),” Beauceville said on its Facebook page shortly before 7 a.m. Monday.
The Ministry of Public Security classified the flooding in Beauceville as “moderate” Monday morning. It had been approaching the “major” flood threshold earlier in the day but its level had receded by late morning.
The Quebec government reported medium flooding at three of its water monitoring stations as of 1 p.m., as well as four instances of minor flooding and said 13 spots were under surveillance.
Several other municipalities said Monday they were monitoring the rising water and preparing to take action if necessary including inYamaska, northeast of Montreal.
Municipal officials said hovercrafts were out on Lac St-Pierre and the Yamaska river to clear a path for water to flow, after ice jams left several residents isolated.
Officials in Weedon, Que., 155 kilometres south of Quebec City, urged residents to prepare for the possibility of flooding by moving their goods to higher spots in their homes, and bringing in outdoor items that could float away. The town said residents should also pack a bag of essentials and ensure vehicles are in easy-to-access locations if they need to leave their homes.
Transport Quebec’s traffic monitoring site parts listed flood-related road closures in the Chaudière-Appalaches, Estrie and Laurentides-Lanaudière regions. The site noted that warm temperatures and rain across the province promote “rapid melting of the snowpack and the accumulation of water on the road network,” and warned of a risk of hydroplaning.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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