After the torrential rains of the last 36 hours, the infrastructures of the municipality of Chertsey are under close surveillance. Around a hundred citizens remain landlocked on Monday. Most will be opened up by 6 p.m., according to the mayor.
“It was really impressive, our land had become a lake,” says Normand Dumas, a resident of Chertsey who lives on rue de l’Église. The road near his home was damaged within “a few minutes” by flooding the day before, when the lake upstream from his home overflowed. “This is the fifth time this has happened. Each time, the municipality must redo the road. It does not make sense. »
In 36 hours, no less than 120 mm of precipitation fell on Chertsey, in the Lanaudière region. With its 110 lakes and 58 dams, such bad weather inevitably causes great pressure on the city’s dams and roads.
As of Monday morning, the situation is “under control despite everything,” he told The Press. A lake has overflowed and two rivers are also under close surveillance. The Press observed on site that many streets were still damaged, or even impassable.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARC-ANDRÉ PLANTE
Rain caused water to accumulate on the road in Chertsey
At midday, around a hundred citizens were still landlocked according to the mayor of Chertsey, Michelle Joly. Several roads will, however, be cleared at the start of the afternoon: 90% of landlocked citizens should have access to a passable path by 6 p.m., “if all goes well,” she said during a press briefing. on the situation.
Crews have already temporarily repaired damaged sections near Lake Lane and Lake Clermoustier. However, the municipality expects that five or six asphalt paths that were damaged by the rains will require the help of engineers, which could take more time.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Monday morning, many streets were still damaged or even impassable.
No residences were flooded apart from a few “minor situations”, he told The Press the Director General. There has been no major illness or accident as far as he knows, but a young mother found herself running out of milk for her baby. The emergency services intervened at VTT to take him to a pharmacy and allow him to buy some.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARC-ANDRÉ PLANTE
Citizens are encouraged to minimize their travel and quickly report any emergency situation to the municipality.
Citizens are always encouraged to minimize their travel and quickly report any emergency situation to the municipality.
The general director Marc-André Plante of the municipality stressed that his municipality includes 5,600 permanent citizens, but that with Saint-Jean, the city generally welcomes between 17,000 and 18,000 people. He invited the population to follow the evolution of the situation on the municipality’s social networks.
In interview with The Press On Sunday, he said 10 to 12 streets and roads were flooded, but no one had been evacuated. Some residences were at risk of flooding and a shed had already suffered significant damage. In two places, the road had subsided, making traffic impossible — many citizens were therefore isolated. “Obviously, it is our priority to ensure that this road is restored,” said the general director.
With The Canadian Press