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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017
River rising, sandbags given out in Gatineau
An example of a laneway house in Toronto’s east end. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE
FLOODING
City continues to monitor water levels Drew May
For Metro | Ottawa
DIMINUTIVE DWELLINGS
Or coach houses, or laneway houses, whatever you call them — they’re coming to Ottawa metroNEWS
The City of Gatineau has started giving out sandbags to residents in response to rising water levels on the Ottawa River. Jean Boileau, director of communications for the city, said the sandbags are free and so far 750 have been given out from city facilities in Gatineau. He said they are monitoring water levels and will do more if needed. Some roads in Gatineau have been closed because of flooding, including parts of St-Louis Street, he said. The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board issued
a statement on April 18 saying that in some areas water levels could rise to the same levels seen after the January 1998 ice storm. Firefighters have been going door-to-door in affected areas to warn people about the rising water levels and urge them to move their belongings off the floor in case of a flood. On the Ottawa side of the river, the bike path behind Parliament Hill has already been flooded. According to Environment Canada, around 30 millimetres of rain fell in the Ottawa area over the Easter weekend. Boileau said preventive measures are being taken in anticipation of more rain in the forecast: Ottawa is expected to get rain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Boileau said the success of the city’s flood measures will be judged by what happens in the coming days.
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