A week of rain and melting snow have increased the risk of flooding along the Ottawa River and other areas around eastern Ontario and Quebec. The City of Ottawa is asking residents to pay attention to announcements and keep an eye out for rising water levels.
In Ottawa, some areas have already been affected by minor flooding. In low-lying areas, such as Petrie Island, roads have been closed as a precaution.
“Residents who live along the Ottawa River and its tributaries are encouraged to stay informed, monitor conditions and initiate preparation plans as flooding conditions evolve,” the city said in a statement released on April 17.
The city is organizing efforts to prevent flood damage by activating its Emergency Coordination Centre, or ECC, which will coordinate efforts across city agencies. Sandbag facilities have also been opened at multiple higher risk parts of the city, the statement said.
The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, or the ORRPB issued a statement on April 17, warning that water levels will increase substantially in the coming days, and that the threshold for minor flooding has been exceeded in most flood prone areas across the Ottawa River’s basin.
Water levels should continue increasing in level over the weekend, and stabilize in levels by Monday, the Board said.
Board officials said a rapid rise in water levels began at the beginning of April, as higher levels of snow and a rapid swing from colder to mild temperatures all contribute to the rise in flood risk across the river’s basin.
“Water levels and flows continue to rise at all locations along the main stem of the Ottawa River as significant runoff from rainfall and snowmelt from the unregulated portion of the basin flow into the river,” the statement from the ORRPB said.
Firefighters will be visiting homes and businesses in flood-prone parts of Ottawa, to assist residents with preparedness for early flooding this weekend.
Officials from the City of Ottawa and the ORRPB are calling on residents to regularly check for updates on the status of flooding, and to prepare their homes while keeping children and pets away from streams or waterways.
