Schools closed, homes evacuated in parts of Quebec due to flooding

Some schools were closed and homes were evacuated in parts of Quebec on Monday as several regions are affected by spring flooding.

In Drummondville, a city roughly 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal, about 300 homes were under an evacuation order due to rising water levels in the Saint-François River.

The city has set up a temporary shelter at the Girardin sports centre for evacuees.

People who need to evacuate are being reminded to take certain steps to protect their homes, including turning off their gas and electricity, raising as many objects as possible, plugging their toilets to prevent sewer backups, and sealing doors and windows to prevent water coming in.

Other parts of the province are also affected by rising water levels.

In Beauceville, south of Quebec City, several roads were inundated by the overflowing Chaudière River. On Sunday, an ice jam caused the river to rise rapidly and burst its banks.

The Système de surveillance de la rivière Chaudière issued a “major flooding” alert for the waterway early Monday morning.

Residents shared images on social media showing flooded roads.

The Centre de services scolaire de la Beauce-Etchemin said that at least three schools were closed Monday morning due to the flooding and school bus service in the area was also cancelled.

Public Safety Minister François Bonnardel said that about a dozen evacuees were taken to a shelter after preventive evacuations were in place.

“Public Safety teams will remain on the lookout and continue to support municipal teams over the coming hours and days,” he said on X.

Meanwhile, the entire city of Nicolet, Que., with a population of roughly 8,000, is without drinking water after the water treatment plant was flooded Sunday night, the city said on Facebook. Residents are being asked to not to consume tap water and limit their water use.

In Sherbrooke, city officials have closed several roads as they monitor the Saint-François River, which was at 19 feet.

Drivers are being urged to be cautious when driving near flooded streets.

With files from The Canadian Press