Chris Lowrey
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC May 16, 2018
Although the spring flood season isn’t over yet, it appears as if this round of potential flooding is starting to abate in the Municipality of Pontiac.
As the water levels have receded, so have some of the worries of municipal staff.
Compared to last year, when municipal workers racked up more than 500 hours of unpaid overtime, it appears that this year won’t be as bad.
Although some sections of the municipality are affected by flooding, it’s nowhere near the severity and scale of last year.
According to Municipality of Pontiac Acting Assistant Director General, Dominic Labrie, the Ottawa River levels have receded since Wednesday’s high-water mark of 59.8 metres above sea level.
As a result of receding waters, the municipality decided there was no need for sand bag distribution over the weekend.

However, back-to-back years of serious flooding have taken its toll on several residents.
Labrie said that many people in flood-prone areas like Ch. du Bord de l’Eau told staff and Mayor Joanne Labadie that their options were limited.
“Some people felt there wasn’t much they could do,” Labrie said. “Some people’s level of distress was very high.”
Labadie and several members of the fire department visited residents to see how they were doing and offer any kind of help they could.
In light of what happened last year, the response effort is fresh in the minds of many residents.
However, Labrie warned that the municipality isn’t out of the woods yet.
Last year’s serious flooding didn’t begin in earnest until May. The flooding experienced in the month of April was similar to what residents experienced this year.
“There is no assurance that there won’t be a second wave,” Labrie said. “Some reservoirs [upriver] are high, apparently.”
Labrie suggested that anyone who has sandbags on their property leave them in place in case the levels rise again.