Montreal is grappling with widespread flooding and power outages after an intense downpour hit the region, inundating homes and disrupting services. The torrential rain, which fell on Saturday, saw parts of the city, particularly in the West Island and South Shore, receive between 100 to 150 millimetres in just a matter of hours, as reported by Environment Canada.
A Community in Crisis
Dimitrios Jim Beis, the mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, emphasised the severity of the situation, stating that his borough experienced even higher rainfall than officially recorded, estimating totals of 150 to 170 millimetres within a two-hour window. “The situation is extremely serious,” he declared, noting that “several hundred” homes have been severely affected by flooding, with road closures occurring in both Pierrefonds and Dollard-Des Ormeaux. Other areas, including Pointe-Claire and Dorval, have also reported significant impacts, as confirmed by local officials.
As of Sunday morning, Hydro-Québec indicated that approximately 4,500 properties were still facing service interruptions. In a proactive response to the crisis, the municipality of Saint-Constant, located southwest of Montreal, declared a local state of emergency, although this was lifted around 10:40 a.m. the same day. A statement from the mayor assured that residents would continue to receive support during the recovery process.
Emergency Response Underway
Montreal’s Fire Division has been on high alert, with Chief Martin Guilbault reporting that the department received around 800 emergency calls since the onset of the storm, primarily concentrated in the Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Dollard-des-Ormeaux areas. He added that approximately 300 homes had been affected by flooding.
“The main purpose of the fire department right now is to ensure everyone is safe and to address any electrical hazards,” Guilbault stated. However, he clarified that fire crews would not pump out basements unless it was necessary to access electrical panels to shut off power in flooded homes. By Sunday afternoon, he noted that around 3,000 residents were expected to regain power, reducing the number of those without electricity to about 1,000.
Emergency services also reported evacuations were carried out, with around 15 individuals needing rescue from their vehicles using boats. Fortunately, no residents were stranded in their homes requiring fire department assistance for evacuation.
Government Support Promised
In response to the crisis, Quebec Public Safety Minister Ian Lafrenière has committed to ensuring that residents receive necessary assistance during this challenging period. The province’s proactive measures aim to address both immediate safety concerns and longer-term recovery efforts.
As the community begins to assess the extent of the damage and the road to recovery, local officials are focused on mobilising resources to support affected families and restore normalcy.
Why it Matters
The catastrophic flooding in Montreal serves as a stark reminder of the increasing intensity of weather events linked to climate change. As communities grapple with the immediate fallout, the incident highlights the urgent need for robust infrastructure planning and enhanced emergency response systems. The situation underscores the vulnerability of urban areas to extreme weather conditions, necessitating a collective effort from local and provincial authorities to safeguard residents against future catastrophes.