Three days after the windstorm that shook most of Quebec, the Mayor of Gatineau indicated that her city is preparing for a possible flooding of the Gatineau River, the level of which is worrying.
“At the end of the day on Sunday, we received a call from Hydro-Québec warning us of the high level of the Baskatong reservoir, that we will begin to release water slowly. It is special, we are preparing for an announced flood given that the level of the Gatineau River will increase, due to the pressure coming from the north, ”said France Bélisle, in an interview with TVA Nouvelles, Tuesday.
The Baskatong Reservoir is a body of water of more than 400 km2 located north of Maniwaki and Mont-Laurier. It flows directly into several rivers in the Outaouais region, including the Gatineau River. For the past ten days, the river has received 130 mm of water. This is 50 mm more than at the same time last year.
The Mayor added that her city has been badly affected by several weather disturbances in recent years. “We had a flood in 2017, another in 2019, between that we had a tornado. In terms of climate change, we really have a good example with the impact on the city of Gatineau,” added the mayor. , mentioning that the distribution of sandbags to citizens began on Monday.
“I don’t know if I’m comforted to know this in advance so that we can prepare for our world, or worried because it’s the beginning of a scenario that we may see a little everywhere in Quebec. In Gatineau, we have developed expertise in this area and what we want to do is protect our infrastructure, ”she explained.
The mayor, however, denies being alarmist. “I want to tell citizens that the City of Gatineau takes care of its people in prevention and precaution.”
