Residential homes are at risk of becoming the target of sewage or flooding, Mayor Éric Allard said.
He explains this catastrophic situation primarily through municipal systems and submersible pumps in houses that can no longer function due to power failures.
“It should take a few days. We are trying to set up services for the citizens. »
— A quote from Éric Allard, Mayor of Châteauguay
More than 150,000 Hydro-Québec customers are without power in Montérégie. In Châteauguay, where there is a state of emergency, floods are added to the power cuts. Update with Mayor Eric Allard.
To deal with the situation, activation of the emergency response plan allows for more spending to quickly set up shelters and relief efforts for citizens.
“There are a lot of people being swamped, we’re getting phone calls all the time and that worries us a lot,” Mayor Allard explained on ICI RDI’s airwaves.
The director of the Chateauguay Fire Department, Patrick Desmarais, added that he had already received more than 450 calls from the public in 24 hours.
By 2:30 p.m., 12,592 of 23,057 customers were still plunged into darkness in this Monteregian community on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River.
At a press conference, Quebec Premier François Legault said the situation in Châteauguay was being considered a priority, a reassuring statement for Mayor Éric Allard.
Worrying water level
A calamity that never comes alone, the rapidly rising level of the river Châteauguay also worries the municipal authorities, who fear floods but above all that the saturation of the sewage system will worsen.
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A high water level does not allow overflows in the pumping stations and thus fuels the risk of the city sewer network being overfilled, the mayor explained in an interview with ICI RDI after noon.
We are well on the way to solving the problem, he assured, and specified that only six out of 44 pumping stations are not connected to the electricity grid.
Measures for disaster victims in place
Victims find refuge at the Georges P.-Vanier Cultural Center.
Firefighters and city employees have been on the job for several hours, and the operations are expected to continue for the next 72 hours, the city said around 11 a.m. Thursday.
Police teams also make rounds in retirement homes.
Videotron’s cell tower is out of service, the municipality said in a press release late this morning, which may affect citizens who subscribe to the service provider.
In emergencies, citizens can call 911, while Citizen Service can be reached at 450 698-3000.