Municipality of Pontiac declares emergency

Severe flooding hits Pontiac region

Allyson Beauregard

Due to severe spring flooding, the municipality of Pontiac, just west of Aylmer, initiated its emergency preparedness plan, April 19. They recommended residents living along seven area roads – Dion, Sapiniere, du Lac, des Plages, du Phare, Charron Beach sector, and Kennedy - evacuate their residences for fear of flooded roads and residents unreachable by emergency vehicles. They also secured folding beds for the Luskville Community Centre in case large numbers of people needed emergency accommodation.

Residents needing help were asked to report to the Luskville Community Centre where they would be informed where they could stay free of charge. They were also given two contact numbers in case they were unable to leave their properties.

“In some sectors, we're not even able to see the road since it is under more than two feet of water,” said Dominic Labrie, municipal Communications Officer. As of April 24, about 30 people had been helped.

According to some residents, this degree of flooding has not occurred since the mid-90s.

Firefighters knocked on several doors to ask residents if they needed help and a special committee was set in place.

Labrie said the worst is over and the municipality is now focusing on the clean-up. An info session on financial assistance for those affected by the flooding was held April 26 at 6 and 7:30 pm at the Luskville Community Centre.

Residents of Mansfield and Otter Lake are also currently able to access funding for flooding damages through the Ministry of Public Security's emergency relief fund. These municipalities have been the most affected by the flooding so far, but more municipalities could be added to the list in the coming weeks. Residents must first register with their municipality before submitting a claim.