WEST ISLAND FLOOD VICTIMS INVITED TO ATTEND INFORMATION MEETING
Despite some recent snow, spring is inevitably somewhere around the corner. For many West Islanders traumatized by the effects of last year’s flooding, the rising river levels this time of year are enough to make them nervous. Hundreds are still left stranded after last year’s spring floods, with some, such as the Bhatti family of six, still living out of a two-bedroom hotel room almost a year later. The city of Montreal released a post-mortem report in December reviewing the order of events and lessons learned during last year’s flooding. The lessons were divided into different phases of risk management: prevention, preparation, intervention, and recovery. The Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough will host flood information booths from 5:30 to 7 p.m., on Tuesday, March 20. Louise Bradette, Montreal’s director of civil protection, will provide a flood review and feedback report on the 2017 floods starting at 7:30 p.m. The flood review and information meeting will be held at the Pierrefonds Cultural Centre located at 13850 Gouin Blvd. The objective of this information session is to inform citizens on the review of actions taken across the urban agglomeration during these events; to present the flood report and the evolution of the action plan and to listen to questions and comments from citizens regarding possible improvements to public safety and civil protection operations and that of its partners. Citizens who wish to speak during the public question period can register in advance by contacting the city clerk’s office at 514-872-3000, or by filling out the form available on the standing committee website at ville.montreal.qc.ca/commissions. It is also possible to register 30 minutes before the beginning of the meeting. The number of seats in the room is limited to 200, and access will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Should the time allotted for the public question period not be sufficient for registered participants, questions may be sent in writing to the public security department, at the following email address: securitecivile@ ville.montreal.qc.ca. Questions will be transferred to the appropriate authority, as required. Representatives from the Ministry of Public Security will also attend the meeting, in support of the civil security department, to answer questions from citizens. The documents related to this meeting are available at the city clerk’s office and on the city’s website at ville.montreal.qc.ca/ commissions. The room is accessible for persons with reduced mobility. The meeting will also be webcast on the standing committee website.