At an emergency meeting held on Friday involving emergency officials, and municipal and provincial politicians, a bleak assessment of the threat flood waters still pose to some one thousand properties in the region was voiced. “We can easily anticipate that we have at least another month’s worth of heavy lifting ahead of us,” said Michael Nolan, the County’s Community Emergency Management Coordinator. “We’re urging residents to carefully watch the forecast and not let their guards down at this time.”
Renfrew County was still under a state of emergency Friday, as were the Townships of Whitewater Region, Horton, McNab Braeside, Laurentian Valley, Greater Madawaska, and Killaloe Hagarty Richards, as well as the City of Pembroke. More than 150 people have left their homes and a number of residents are also cut off behind flooded roads and bridges.
Madawaska Valley is not under emergency conditions at the present time, but has issued this advice to residents:
As predicted on May 3 the water levels have slowly declined on the Kamaniskeg water system and will continue to decline but future rain events could cause the levels to rise again. Please continue to monitor your property on the Kamaniskeg and Bark Lake areas. (Photo above of Kamaniskeg Lake at Lakeshore Park taken May 3 by Sharon Gardiner)
- Please secure boats, docks, rafts on your property. Sandbags and sand are available to protect your property.
- Updates from the Ministry continue to be monitored by the CEMC and CEMC alternate and updates will be relayed as provided.
- Sand and sandbags for prevention and protection of primary buildings(ie. House & cottages) are available.
Road closures as of May 5:
- Municipal511.ca will be updated as changes occur.
- Finch Road, remains closed
- Paugh Lake at Wilno North/Trebinski Rd to Basin Depot Road, remains closed. County Bridge near Basin Depot, 21 inch of water over road and washout throughout the road.
Call the Madawaska Valley Township office at 613-756-2747 to register for sandbags, or alternatively, the Operations Manager at 613-633-6164 or the Operations Supervisor at 613-639-5313. If required sand can be delivered to additional central locations for sandbagging. Sand and sandbags are available at:
- Barry’s Bay- Public Works Garage Yard 1- 49 Arena Rd
- Combermere-Fire Hall/Combermere Community Ctr-1095 Farmer Rd
- Contact the Operations Manager 613-633-6164 for sand to be delivered at your location if required.
Additional information is available on the Madawaska Valley website. Click HERE to visit.
As advised on April 30, Hydro One will waive the delivery charges/connection fees for customers affected by flooding. Check water levels to ensure the main electrical panel is dry. Please call 1-800-434-1235 to have the power safely disconnected if there are any concerns.
Restrictions on boat traffic and drones
On April 28 the Transport Canada issued a statement regarding navigational restrictions and flood-related measures. The County of Renfrew reminds residents that these Transport Canada restrictions currently apply in a limited area but may expand geographically. These include:
- prohibition against navigation by non-emergency vessels in the Ottawa River between Ottawa-Gatineau and the Carillon generating station, as well as on Lac des Deux-Montagnes, Rivière des Mille-Îles, and Rivière-des-Prairies
- restriction on the operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (drones) within a radius of 9 km of all flooded areas within the Province of Quebec.
The Transport Canada statement ends with a reminder to Canadians not to fly drones in areas where first responder activities are taking place. As well, it reminds boaters operating in non-restricted areas to take extra care in navigating changing waters, and to let the first responders do their work.
