Montreal officials preparing for possible flooding
Posted April 18, 2023 6:58 pm.
Last Updated April 19, 2023 11:45 am.
Montreal has moved into an intervention phase after the city activated its alert mode as part of its flood response plan Sunday.
Mayor Valérie Plante and Montreal Fire Chief Richard Liebmann spoke in Ahuntsic-Cartierville about the neighbourhoods bordering Rivière-des-Prairies, Lake of Two Mountains and Lac St-Louis, which are particularly at risk of spring flooding.
“We want to reassure everybody that we are ready, that we’ve learned over the past years,” said Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante.
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante and Montreal fire Chief Richard Liebmann address media near the Rivière des Prairies Aug. 18, 2023. (Martin Daigle/CityNews)
The city’s fire chief says Montreal is in preparation mode and that measures are being deployed to protect properties.
“Even though we’ve been in action for a few weeks now, we’re going to intensify those actions taken to prepare and prevent flooding in public areas and in all of the areas that are generally touched by this,” said Liebmann.
The city is currently building dikes, distributing sand bags, installing inflatable plugs and pumps in flood-risk areas. It has also published a webpage offering tips to protect your home in the event of a flood.
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Plante and Liebmann are asking those in areas with risk of flooding to also take action.
“We ask people nonetheless to prepare their own properties to prevent flooding and to minimize the damage if there is any flooding,” said Liebmann.
The forecast for the rest of the week according to Liebmann is a good sign – mainly sunny and warming up, with highs of 22 Saturday. But rain is expected Sunday, with temperatures dipping to 13 degrees. He adds the forecast can change at anytime.
“Rain, weather, snow melt, all influence how the river levels will change and it can happen rather quickly,” said Liebmann. “If the forecast gets worse, everything is in place, the mechanics, the logistics to put up further protective measures and make sure… that we minimize the impact,” he added.
The city is urging those in places at risk of flooding to call 311 or 514-872-0311 if help is needed.
Sand bags and concrete blocks placed near the rivière des Prairies at the end of Notre-Dames-des-Anges street on April 18, 2023. (Martin Daigle/CityNews)
