Vaudreuil-Dorion volunteers lauded as flood waters begin to recede
Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon is breathing a little easier this week after flood waters began to recede from his Off-Island community.
“There is a big difference between this week and last week,” Pilon said after noting that more than 50,000 sandbags were used to shore up properties.
Now, the big cleanup begins. The city plans to rally volunteers to help collect sand bags and other refuse from the great flood of 2017.
About 50 houses were flooded in Vaudreuil-Dorion, but probably less than 10 sustained major damage, said Pilon.
The mayor also noted that it was mostly older homes built near the shoreline that were hard-hit by the flood.
“Most of the newer homes are OK,” he said.
Pilon also assured property owners that the city has no plans to expel anyone living in flooded areas.
“We have to make sure we give a break to people,” he said. “We will not expel you, you can continue to live there by the waterfront. If (the flooding) was every year, maybe, but once every 50, 60, or 70 years, then it’s not the case.”
Vaudreuil-Dorion recently announced plans to build a new city hall on a waterfront property located at 405 St-Charles Ave. on Vaudreuil Bay.
While there was some flooding in that piece of land, Pilon was quick to note there was no flooding where the proposed city hall building is to be erected.
“The place where we want to put the building never got one drop of water. Nothing,” Pilon said. “The rest of the land. Yes. It is like that. What you have to understand is that on about a 200,000-squarefoot property, we are going to use about 50,000 square feet (for city hall).
“That place has never been under water. More than that, when we will build (city hall), we will build with a safe (plan),” he added.
Mayoral hopeful Pierre Séguin could not be reached for comment.
Pilon said he is proud of how citizens of Vaudreuil-Dorion rallied together to fight the flood.
“Everybody gave 300 per cent,” he said. “Even people who were too old to work or fill sandbags, they brought soup and food to the volunteers. It was fantastic to see.”
“Even though something bad happened with the flood, something good came out of it,” Pilon said. “Everyone helped each other.”