‘Hope for the best, prepare for the worst:’ Residents along Ottawa River brace for flooding

Residents in Gatineau and eastern Ontario are getting ready as water levels rise on the Ottawa River. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

A flood warning remains in effect on Saturday for parts of eastern Ontario and Quebec as water continues to rise along the Ottawa River.

Many residents in Ottawa and Gatineau are rushing to prevent damage to their properties this weekend.

City officials say levels are rising up to 14 centimetres along the Ottawa River and up to eight centimetres on the Gatineau River.

“We never know, so we hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” said Joel Bigras, who lives in an area of Gatineau that will likely be affected by flooding.

The clock is ticking to build sandbag walls in the neighbourhood.

“I estimate three or four thousand sandbags,” said Bigras. “That’s on the street because I’m doing it for everyone, I got elderly people and people in wheelchairs.”

Bigras is helping his neighbours and building one large sandbag wall to prevent the flooding from spreading to homes in the neighbourhood.

“Basically, we are doing a big wall on the sidewalk because it’s easier to do a big wall than a bunch of small ones,” said Bigras.

The City of Gatineau says nearly 120 buildings could be affected by flooding this weekend, as levels on the Ottawa and Gatineau Rivers surge. A flood watch is also in effect for the Ottawa River from Arnprior to Hawkesbury.

Officials say the public should avoid travelling in high risk areas unless absolutely necessary.

The City of Ottawa is providing sandbags for those in need at 15 locations, with pick-up spots also available in Quebec.

“We are around 70 to 80 pallets,” said Richard Beaulne, a machine operator with the City of Gatineau. “Now, I have this vehicle coming with about 20 pallets on it to unload.”

Trucks unloaded throughout the day at the multiple locations to help those at risk.

“We are in the worst zone of the flooding,” said Gerald Tremblay, who was at a pick-up depot.

“All we do is put sandbags around the basement window so they don’t crash in. The rest we have is big pumps so we try to level the water, so it doesn’t come up to the first floor.”

Environment Canada says the Ottawa area has seen more than 83 millimetres of rain so far this month and 62 millimetres of rain fell in the last week.

“I would say 12 bags per window so just 24, that’s it,” said Tremblay. “There’s no use putting bags all around when you’re in the swimming pool where we are.”

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App