Urgence Québec, the civil security authority in the province of Quebec, Canada, reports that spring flooding has damaged 2,341 homes and forced around 1,200 residents to evacuate over the weekend 20 to 21 April, 2019. Urgence Québec added that over 700 homes had been left isolated by the flood water.

Spring snowmelt and rain in the region has caused rivers and lakes to overflow, including the Chaudière, and the Ottawa and St Lawrence along with the Lake of Two Mountains (Lac des Deux Montagnes). As of 22 April, the government of Quebec said that rivers in the province were at major flood stage at 6 locations, and at middle flood stage at 12 locations.

Quebec river levels above major or moderate flood stage as of 22 April 2019. Image / figures: Government of Quebec

Flooding has affected several regions of the province, including Chaudière-Appalaches, Outaouais, Montérégie, Laurentides, Estrie, Centre-du-Quebec and Laval. Around 600 Canadian Forces troops have been deployed to affected areas to help shore up flood defences.

Among the worst hit areas is the city of Sainte-Marie, Chaudière-Appalaches Region, situated on the Chaudière River, where around 1,000 homes have been flooded and 500 people evacuated.

One fatality was reported on 19 April, 2019, in Outaouais Region where a woman died after floods washed out a road. Over 100 people have been evacuated from the municipality of Saint-André-Avellin in the region.

Local authorities in the city of Gatineau, located on the banks of the Gatineau and Ottawa Rivers, immediately across from Ottawa, said that around 100 people have been evacuated from homes in the city.

Floods in Gatineau, Quebec Canada, April 2019. Credit: Ville de Gatineau

Floods in Gatineau, Quebec Canada, April 2019. Credit: Ville de Gatineau

2017 Floods

The province was badly hit by similar flooding in spring 2017, flooding over 4,000 homes and causing around C$200 million in insured damage.

Social Media

https://twitter.com/FP_Champagne/status/1120111310354702337

Ce 22 avril, le niveau des rivières est toujours en hausse. 98 personnes sont inscrites au centre d’aide aux sinistrés. Les sinistrés qui évacuent leur résidence doivent s’enregistrer auprès de la Ville en téléphonant au 311. #Gatineau #MSGU #CruePrintanière pic.twitter.com/6KODAgYanc

— Ville de Gatineau (@ville_gatineau) April 22, 2019

FATAL ACCIDENT : A road was washed during the night because of the spring flooding in the @MuniPontiac and a vehicle fell into the creek. Accident under investigation, more details to come #policemrc pic.twitter.com/1SpSkLJaKY

— PoliceMRCdesCollines (@Police_MRC) April 20, 2019