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A dangerous mix of open water and piles of ice has led to low-level flooding along the Gatineau River in Gracefield, 100 kilometres north of Ottawa.
The river has piles of “frazil” ice — loose collections of small ice chunks that typically appear during the spring breakup. Unusual winter weather has led to this happening in January, says town Coun. Michael Gainsford, who is also the fire chief.
Early this month they caused some flooding in a campground by the river’s edge. Now Gainsford said the town is watching cautiously and advising residents of low-lying areas that they may have to evacuate.
“Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday morning the water went up 13 inches (33 cm),” he said.
“I’m 47 years old and this is the first year that I’ve experienced something like this” in the winter.
Gracefield has seen floods before, but always during the spring runoff.
Gainsford blames the unusual weather. The river has unusually large areas of open water after a mild start to winter. Now he says these are freezing on top, but the current underneath then breaks up the ice and carries the pieces downstream until they jam and form an embankment.
“They’re making a huge wall and it’s blocking off the water,” he said. “There are two embankments in Gracefield.”
“We don’t know what the weather is going to give us and we don’t know what level of water we’re going to get,” he said.
“So far, everybody is secure.” He estimated that “maybe a dozen” buildings, mainly cottages, are in danger of flooding if the water rises more.
Quebec’s Minister of Public Security, Lise Thériault, is in Gracefield to see the situation.
“Right now there’s nothing we can do,” Gainsford said. But if there’s more flooding the town will have to evacuate residents from flood-prone areas.
tspears@postmedia.com
twitter.com/TomSpears1
查看原文...
The river has piles of “frazil” ice — loose collections of small ice chunks that typically appear during the spring breakup. Unusual winter weather has led to this happening in January, says town Coun. Michael Gainsford, who is also the fire chief.
Early this month they caused some flooding in a campground by the river’s edge. Now Gainsford said the town is watching cautiously and advising residents of low-lying areas that they may have to evacuate.
“Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday morning the water went up 13 inches (33 cm),” he said.
“I’m 47 years old and this is the first year that I’ve experienced something like this” in the winter.
Gracefield has seen floods before, but always during the spring runoff.
Gainsford blames the unusual weather. The river has unusually large areas of open water after a mild start to winter. Now he says these are freezing on top, but the current underneath then breaks up the ice and carries the pieces downstream until they jam and form an embankment.
“They’re making a huge wall and it’s blocking off the water,” he said. “There are two embankments in Gracefield.”
“We don’t know what the weather is going to give us and we don’t know what level of water we’re going to get,” he said.
“So far, everybody is secure.” He estimated that “maybe a dozen” buildings, mainly cottages, are in danger of flooding if the water rises more.
Quebec’s Minister of Public Security, Lise Thériault, is in Gracefield to see the situation.
“Right now there’s nothing we can do,” Gainsford said. But if there’s more flooding the town will have to evacuate residents from flood-prone areas.
tspears@postmedia.com
twitter.com/TomSpears1
查看原文...
