Flood victims say more homes would be lost if not for volunteers, military

OTTAWA — Were it not for volunteers and the military as water levels climbed over the weekend, victims of this year’s devastating spring flooding in Eastern Canada say many more homes would be lost to the disaster.

The City of Ottawa says 5,500 people have registered since late last week to fill sandbags, set up walls to slow the water from reaching properties and deliver food to overwhelmed flood victims.

Many more volunteered their time and efforts as part of community organizations.

Emmett Power’s home in the west Ottawa community of Constance Bay was just centimetres from filling with water early Monday as flood levels surpassed those seen in 2017 along the Ottawa River.

He says the volunteers who lugged heavy sandbags to make walls against the torrent around his property were the difference between maintaining dry floors and a total loss.

Roughly 800 people each day turned out to help at the Constance and Buckham’s Bay community centre over the weekend.

Those numbers dwindled as many people had to return to their weekday jobs, but dozens more continued wielding shovels and filling sandbags early Monday.

Defence minister tours flood zone

The Canadian Forces said it deployed approximately 750 military personnel since April 25 to support flood relief efforts in the National Capital Region, including helping fill sandbags and build walls around homes and critical infrastructure.

Federal Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan took time to tour some of the affected areas in Saint John, New Brunswick on Monday to see where Armed Forces members were assisting those impacted in the flood zones.

He pointed out that there are now more Canadian troops deployed at home dealing with flood efforts than are currently deployed overseas.

“At times like this, I always say, we want to make sure that the Canadian Armed Forces are able to respond to any type of disasters. At the end of the day, the Canadian Armed Forces belongs to its citizens and they’ll respond in their time of need.”

Soldiers are laying out sandbags as well as helping those displaced by the floodwaters. They are expected to stay where they’re needed until threats subside.

“At times like this, I always say, we want to make sure that the Canadian Armed Forces are able to respond to any type of disasters. At the end of the day, the Canadian Armed Forces belongs to its citizens and they’ll respond in their time of need.”

Sajjan added climate change is presenting security threats around the globe, and said it’s among the reasons the Liberal government has grown reserve forces in recent years.