Canada: State of emergency declared in Ottawa due to flooding April 25 /update 2

Event

Continued flooding and further heavy rainfall forecast in Ottawa (Ontario province) prompted the city's mayor Jim Watson to declare a state of emergency on Thursday, April 25. Weather officials indicate water levels of the Ottawa River are expected to surpass 60 m (196 ft) in the Britannia neighborhood by Saturday, April 27. Meanwhile, officials in Québec province ordered the immediate evacuation of areas along the Rouge River, while more than 1900 homes in the city of Gatineau have been impacted by flooding. 

Authorities predict that flooding will continue near the St. Lawrence River, particularly near Lake St. Pierre and the St. John River between Fredericton and Saint John (New Brunswick province) over the coming days. In Saint John, river levels are expected to exceed 5.5 m (18 ft) on Thursday. At least 84 roads in New Brunswick, including portions of the Trans-Canada highway between Oromocto and River Glade, have been inundated by floodwaters. Associated disruptions, including road closures, are to be expected.

Context

Rivers in eastern Canada have surged in recent days due to heavy rains and melting ice and snow due to high spring temperatures.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather and flood reports, anticipate continued flooding and associated transportation disruptions, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities, and remember that walking or driving through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater and chemical products; all items having come into contact with floodwater should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.