Residents of a Potton campground in the Eastern Townships witnessed a very sad sight on Wednesday as the rising water left their wrecked caravans and prized possessions in complete chaos.
“The bottom of my neighbor’s trailer was totally flooded, it’s full of mud. It’s a total loss […] “We’re still talking about more than $20,000 being gone,” laments Martin Parent, a seasonal resident at campsite Havre des Îles, about an hour from Sherbrooke.
Courtesy of Francis Joyal
Fridge, chairs, gazebos, tents, tables… nothing withstood the currents of the Missisquoi River, which poured out of bed overnight from Monday to Tuesday. In all, about fifteen campers were urgently evacuated, unknown to the local regulars.
“I wasn’t there when the water started to rise, but I would have liked to have been able to do something,” explains François Bineau, who is coping with his second disaster of the year.
The man who lost a large part of his belongings in an apartment fire in winter tried to save as much as possible from his flooded trailer this time.
Courtesy of Francis Joyal
Chairs and canvases are drying on the floor while much wet debris is still visible all around.
rain expected
On Wednesday, the water accumulation in the lower part of the campsite was still so bad that frogs and minnows swam between the vehicles. Much to the chagrin of campers, more rain is expected on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to Environment Canada.
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“We’re feeling a little in the dark, we don’t know what the next few days have in store for us, so we’re emptying as much as we can,” comments Martin Parent, who was helping his neighbors tow trailers.
This health network chef’s vacation has been completely cut short due to the floods. His tent and all his camping gear were swept away by the torrents. A week before his summer vacation, he needs to replace $750 worth of camping gear.
“It’s a real mess […] but we’re trying to save the furniture,” he dropped resignedly.
stabilization
It was time to clean up the community in Potton Township, where a state of emergency had been declared the day before.
“Right now I’m not worried, we’re only announcing 25 millimeters, but if there was a shower like the one we’ve already had it would be different,” said Jason Sherrer, the city’s director of public services. Municipality of Potton in Estrie.
Two roads remained closed to traffic Wednesday, including the popular 243 road which had suffered subsidence.
As of Wednesday, several communities were still on high alert, including the town of Sherbrooke, which however announced that the level of the Saint-François river was “gradually recovering” and that the majority of the 458 evacuees had been able to return to their homes. . The situation is “stable” for the parishes of Weedon, Eastman and Bolton-Est, but certain arteries remain closed.
Minister Bonnardel also announced the establishment of a general financial assistance program to help affected communities and disaster victims. The amount has not yet been announced.
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