The woe is keen: he saw a fire and two floods in less than a year

News 17 January, 2018

QMI agency

Wednesday, 17-jan-2018 10:46

UPDATE
Wednesday, 17-jan-2018 10:57

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SAINT-ZÉPHIRIN-DE-COURVAL | Sylvain Desgranges has been particularly battered by the losses over the last year. The man from Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, in Centre-du-Québec, has lived through a fire and two floods in less than 12 months.

“On march 3, 2017, my house and my company had passed through the fire. Given the circumstances, we went to stay at the cottage,” said Mr. Desgranges in interview to the program “The 9 o’clock”, LCN, Wednesday.

Unfortunately, the cottage where he had found refuge was inundated by flood waters. So he had to move to another cottage, near the Yamaska river.

The rise quickly from the river this week has again flooded the place where he had gone… for a second time.

A good Samaritan has rescued with a helicopter.

“There it was recovered by Robert Chevrier, of the company RCA electrical Sainte-Hélène on a voluntary basis. It is a knowledge”, said Mr. Desgranges.

The helicopter pilot was also allowed a dozen people to leave their home flooded in a safe manner.

Despite the hardships, Mr. Desgranges is continuing its activities. “I have a business, then it had to be the same, that I work”, he said.

It is up the sleeves, and has restarted elsewhere after the fire. “I would like to say a big thank you to Louis-Emile Lepage of Condor Chemical, which has provided me with a local, another grand gesture”, he continued, grateful.

When they have had to be evacuated, he and his partner had as boots, pajamas and winter coat. It all happened suddenly, in less than two minutes.

“It seems that when you live in a disaster, it is as if the body becomes stronger. (…) I no longer have the car, everything is frozen out there.”

The contractor has still not had a settlement with his insurance company. “We talk through our lawyers now.”

Despite all its woes, he finds the courage to continue to manage his business, trying to get up. “My greatest desire would be to fall back into a normal life,” said the host.