Waterways: the minister Coiteux in a “state of alert important”

Photo Simon Clark
The minister of public Safety, Martin Coiteux

QMI agency

Wednesday, February 21, 2018 10:07

UPDATE
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 10:07

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Rainfall and abnormally high temperatures are forcing the department of public Safety to be in a “state of alert” important ” with respect to the overflow potential of certain rivers, on Wednesday morning.

According to the minister Martin Coiteux, the situation is particularly “at risk” in the regions of Estrie, Montérégie and the Outaouais.

“The cities have been contacted, the municipalities involved know what needs to be implemented in the circumstances”, said the minister, during a media scrum.

“There are monitoring very, very close to water courses, so that we are ready to take action at the appropriate time, if necessary,” he added.

The minister has clarified, however, that the situation was not nearly resemble that of last spring, where 291 municipalities had been affected and over 5,000 homes flooded.

“We have an emergency preparedness plan, on the plan of the alerts and working with the cities at the time of operations, works quite well,” said Mr. Coiteux, to explain the improvements made to the process standby since last spring.

Of the rain, sometimes freezing, and a mercury oscillating between five and 10 degrees are expected today over southern Quebec.