April 16, 2014 by Canadian Underwriter
SHERBROOKE, Que. – Hundreds of people have been forced from their homes in Sherbrooke, Que., as the Saint-Francois River continues to swell.
Officials say the river has now reached 7.3 meters, much higher than its normal level of 1.8 meters.
They say that’s prompted a third evacuation of more than 400 people. Officials had initially evacuated 30 people living near the river, then another 100.
Several rivers have overflowed their banks in the province, forcing evacuations in multiple locations.
A seniors’ residence has been evacuated because of flooding of the Sainte- Anne River in Saint-Raymond, northwest of Quebec City. The same area was flooded twice in 2012, forcing 700 people from their homes.
In Quebec City, authorities say the water levels of several rivers have reached crisis level and an emergency preparedness plan has been activated.
Some 30 homes have been evacuated along the Montmorency River.
Evacuations have also been carried out in Trois-Rivieres and in Lennoxville and Weedon in the Eastern Townships south of Montreal.
St-François river in #Sherbrooke broke it’s banks – forced 600 people from homes. Many businesses closed. #floods pic.twitter.com/a08a5cqmTu
— Tim Sargeant (@tfsargeant) April 16, 2014
More than two dozen areas (intersections/streets) closed in #Sherbrooke due to #floods. Reopening date not known. pic.twitter.com/xXOM77aysH
— Tim Sargeant (@tfsargeant) April 16, 2014
Centre-ville de #Sherbrooke inondé #rces #rdi pic.twitter.com/6hSBaal71k
— Claudine Richard (@ClaudineRichard) April 16, 2014
Image impressionnante de l’#inondation à #Sherbrooke. #helicoTVA pic.twitter.com/WhmfnQQrIu
— Maxime Landry (@MaxLandryTVA) April 16, 2014
Sacs de sable devant des commerces du centre-ville de #sherbrooke #rces pic.twitter.com/oVeNGDPjba
— Claudine Richard (@ClaudineRichard) April 16, 2014
Des dizaines de résidences touchées par #inondations entre Joliette et St-Félix-de-Valois. #helicoTVA pic.twitter.com/iMA8ybwK7q
— Maxime Landry (@MaxLandryTVA) April 16, 2014
Gens du MTQ au travail au centre-ville de #Sherbrooke. #rces pic.twitter.com/ZtItDgeWsP
— Marie Eve Lacas (@MEveLacas) April 16, 2014
À #Sherbrooke la rivière Saint-François a commencé à déborder sur Saint-François nord #rces #inondations pic.twitter.com/haP3dsFXzZ
— Claudine Richard (@ClaudineRichard) April 15, 2014
Dans le centre-ville de #sherbrooke l’eau se retire tranquillement. Total: 632 évacués. #rces pic.twitter.com/g0rJfVMo5F
— Marie Eve Lacas (@MEveLacas) April 16, 2014
Ce que vous voyez, entre les arbres, c’est une table de piquenique bientôt submergée #Sherbrooke #rces #inondations pic.twitter.com/9HBEHl0Wjd
— Claudine Richard (@ClaudineRichard) April 15, 2014
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