Rain began to fall again Friday in the flood-soaked Quebec region of the Richelieu River, dampening the spirits of residents and farmers in the area who have been dealing with record flooding levels.
Communities along the river in southeastern Quebec have been devastated as the river overwhelms its banks, and levels are expected to rise again overnight.
Up to 3,000 houses along the swollen river have been affected. About one-third of them have been evacuated, forcing about 1,000 people from their homes.
Plus, of the 500-odd farms that line the river, 10 per cent have been directly affected by the water. Roads throughout the region are also washed out.
Cattle farmer Micheal Bergeron told CTV Montreal's Paul Karwatsky that upwards of four feet of water have seeped onto his property and into his barn.
"This obviously becomes 24 hours a day," Bergeron said as he checked up on his cattle, standing in four feet of water in his barn. "With the animals, you have to check very closely to make sure."
For days, he's been holding out, but on Friday, he was prepared to leave his farm and attempt to take his cattle as well.
"If it rises anymore, they'll have to be evacuated," he said.
Other farmers in the area have had their livelihoods put on hold, as the waters have prevented them from planting crops during the crucial spring season.
Meanwhile, a nearby mayor is allowing himself some measure of hope amid a break from the rain that has flooded out hundreds of homes in the area.
Gerard Dutil, mayor of Saint-Paul-de-L'Ile-Aux-Noix, said 450 homes have been affected his town and 200 of those have been evacuated.
"Most of them have relocated with family, with friends, but we do have some of them in motels, hotels in the area. The Red Cross is responsible to find lodging for them," he said.
More than 700 members of the Canadian Forces were sent to the region to help with everything from evacuations, to sandbagging and protecting infrastructure.
Capt. Eric Le Merac said that many residents in the affected communities have grown tired after hours or days spent trying to keep rising waters at bay.
"It's a challenging time," he said by phone from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. "People are very pleased to see some new bodies, some strong arms, some people who are here to help."
The convoy of military vehicles arrived less than 24 hours after receiving an official request from Premier Jean Charest.
Soldiers immediately began placing sand bags in a tough battle against the rising water.
Conservative MP Christian Paradis visited the area on Friday. He pledged that the
Canadian Forces troops would continue to help with flood efforts for as long as they're needed, and said he was impressed by how quickly the soldiers were working.
Charest toured the region a day earlier, amid reports that river levels were still expected to rise and more rain would likely begin to fall on Monday.
Environment Canada said the flooding is the result of an unusually heavy snowpack combined with a week-long downpour.
Carole Guimond, an evacuated resident of Saint-Paul-de-L'Ile-Aux-Noix, said she and her family have been out of their house since April 28 and are currently living in a trailer park.
"We're all healthy, thank God. We're all tired but it could be worse," she said.
They woke up one morning and the river had crossed the street between their home and the river, she said. They went to collect sandbags to protect the property, but by the time they returned an hour later the water was already in the house.
Dutil said there is currently a foot-and-a-half of water in her home, and she expects the level to rise for another few days.
"There are a lot of families and older folks that live in this area and it's really bad, people are losing their houses, there's so much damage all around," she said.
Both Charest and Prime Minister Stephen Harper have said their governments will be providing help to the flood victims, but it isn't clear whether they will cover all the losses.
With files from The Canadian Press
