Quebec widens scope of tropical storm Debby flooding compensation
Nearly 2K Quebecers have so far requested payment following last week's floods
Quebec Premier François Legault said Friday afternoon that the province would now be compensating homes that were damaged by overflowing sewers as heavy rainfall caused by tropical storm Debby flooded hundreds of Quebec households.
The compensation program initially only included homes that were flooded by rainwater.
"We want to send a clear message to Quebecers that we're there to help you," Legault said a news conference in Montreal. "We know that nearly every year there is flooding. We were lucky in 2024, there weren't very many, but then we had this storm, Debby, so we're going to make sure to help citizens."
Public Security Minister François Bonnardel joined Legault at the press briefing, updating the flooding cleanup situation as well as providing an update on flooding caused by a major water main break in south-central Montreal.
The water main break caused a geyser that lasted for hours Friday morning and was, at times, nearly as high as the nearby Jacques-Cartier Bridge.
Legault said the City of Montreal had managed to shut off the flow through the more than two-metre-wide pipe.
"It's under control," Legault said, adding that about 100 homes in the surrounding neighbourhoods had been flooded and 13,500 people are without power as a preventive measure.
The city has set up a centre where evacuated residents can stay. The cleanup is underway and nearly 150,000 homes remain under a boil-water advisory.
A reporter noted Legault had reacted quickly to news of the water main break and asked if he had wanted to avoid criticism he received for not holding a news conference last weekend.
"I've said this already but I was following the situation last weekend hour by hour. There were about 100 different places that were affected and I made the decision it would be more efficient to respond to the developing situation," Legault said.
20 municipalities still affected
Bonnardel said 20 Quebec municipalities and 31 homes are still affected by the Debby aftermath. Roughly 20 roads remain closed due to damages caused by the storm on Aug. 9, and the number of landslides grew over the past week, from 120 to 187.
Bonnardel said 1,834 people have so far made claims through the government's compensation program for a total of about $38,000 spent in cash advances. Those who haven't yet can make a claim online or by calling 1-888-643-2433 (AIDE), weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Legault said it's important that people first claim the maximum that they can with their private insurance companies before requesting the government's help.
During 2017 and 2019 floods in the province, Bonnardel said there were between 6,000 and 7,000 claims in each of the two years.
More rain is expected this weekend. Up to 25 millimetres of precipitation is expected in regions north of Montreal, including Laval, the Laurentians and Lanaudière regions — which were all heavily affected by Debby.
The province is recommending people avoid going to their cabins in the sparsely populated territory north of Lanaudière where up to 50 millimetres of rain is expected. Private and municipal dams in the area have been opened gradually to allow water to flow and avoid more flooding.