Montreal South Shore among hardest hit by flooding

South Shore of Montreal hit hard by flash flooding

Many communities on Montreal’s South Shore were flooded during the abundant rainstorms this weekend.

Approximately 600 calls were placed to the 911 call centre in Châteauguay to report flooding.

In Saint-Constant, Tania Tremblay says her home was surrounded by water, adding that her two pumps were working non-stop to keep the water out of her basement.

Not far away, on the banks of the Turtle River, Sonia Jobin says even the CP Rail tracks in the area were almost under water.

“There was 2.3 feet of water on top of the bridge,” she said. “Just another two feet and a half before it flooded the tracks.”

The mayor of Saint-Constant, Jean-Claude Boyer, says 200 calls for help were received, and roads were closed for safety when the Turtle River burst its banks.

Meanwhile, in a nearby community, Saint-Mathieu Mayor Jean-Luc Dulude said emergency responders received 100 calls for flooded houses.

Saint-Mathieu was also forced to close roads, and an emergency temporary shelter was opened for residents who couldn’t get home, but it was eventually blocked by the flooded streets too.

Diane Riel was one of many residents cleaning up branches and debris left behind when the water finally receded many hours later.

She says she’s never seen Turtle River rise so much and so quickly.

Jobin confirms, “This is the highest we’ve ever seen it. Since ’98, we’ve been here.”

With the ground saturated and more rain possible this week, residents say they continue to wait, watch and worry.