WEST ISLAND OFFICIALS SAY THEY’RE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT FLOOD
West Island municipal officials assure residents they are well prepared to deal with a potential flood crisis. New measures and better readiness plans have been implemented this spring as a result of flooding last May in parts of the West Island.
The hardest-hit West Island communities last year were the Montreal boroughs of L’Île-Bizard—Sainte-Geneviève and Pierrefonds—Roxboro, as well as the town of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue.
Municipalities are carrying out daily verification of nearby water levels that, so far, have been deemed normal or nondangerous.
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa said that while her town was prepared to deal with the flood last spring, it continues to find new ways to help its residents. The town recently distributed an emergency tip sheet about how to deal with a flood crisis. Most Ste-Anne homes affected by flooding last spring were located on its western shoreline. “We now realize that where you use sandbags is as important as having sandbags,” Hawa said, explaining that placing them right next to a home’s foundation is key.
Hawa said that it is crucial for homeowners to be prepared and that the tip sheet will help them cope. “You’re really on your own. It’s great to get help or to find someone to give you a hand. Don’t wait on Quebec, on Montreal or your city,” she said. “The city is there to give you a hand, but at the end of line, it is your private property and you need to protect it.”
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue has set up a dedicated number (514-4576666) for its residents to call about flood concerns.
Following up on the recent distribution of its flood crisis guide for residents, the Pierrefonds— Roxboro borough has improved local dikes along Rivière-desPrairies and has purchased new equipment, such as inflatable watergate systems, noted Mayor Jim Beis. “Since the flood last year, we haven’t stopped working toward minimizing the impact of any future flooding,” Beis told the West Island Gazette. “(We’ve) reinforced some of the natural dikes that exist on our territory (in places) where, before, we had to deploy resources to install literally hundreds of thousands of bags of sand. These natural dikes (are designed) to eliminate some of the work that would be required if we ever had to intervene in that way again.”
As a precaution, the borough has about 30,000 sandbags at the ready in case residents are faced with a cresting river or overtaxed rainwater sewers this spring, Beis said.
In fact, water flow in the river has been receding and water levels are below normal for this period. “So if this trend continues, we’ll be out of danger. But, of course, you can never know when you’re dealing with (a natural) emergency. It could happen at any time. All indications are we won’t have a flood this year,” Beis added.
The borough’s storm sewer network has to be analyzed to determine vulnerable spots, with any improvements to be funded by the central city, Beis said, adding new water-pumping stations may also be required.
“Approximately $15 million is required to look at and overhaul, if necessary, (Pierrefonds’) system,” Beis said.
While faced with criticism and some legal actions, the borough did everything humanly possible dealing on the ground with the unfolding flood crisis last year, Beis said. “Our major priority has always been and will always be our citizens and saving lives,” Beis said. “Property is a priority as well, but for me, that’s secondary when it comes to the people.”
Both Pierrefonds—Roxboro and Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue provided their residents with written guidelines to follow in case of a future flood. “This is to have them assume a role in managing their belongings and being prepared,” Beis said.
The Montreal Metropolitan Community is in the process of updating floodplain maps for the region, including the West Island, to determine what areas are in 20-year or 100-year floodrisk zones.
As per provincial decree, no new residential construction permits are to be issued for lots in a 20-year floodplain zone. Revised floodplain maps will provide valuable information to determine potential approval of any future construction projects, considering there are also strict criteria to build in 100-year flood zones. Some 100-year floodplain spots in Pierrefonds were touched last spring, Beis noted. He also pointed out that not all of the borough’s 30-kilometre waterfront area is technically in a 20-year flood zone.
The city is there to give you a hand, but at the end of line, it is your private property and you need to protect it. STE-ANNE-DEBELLEVUE MAYOR PAOLA HAWA