(NSN) Up to a third of the population of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac is homeless for the time being after being forced to leave last weekend because of rising waters from Lake of Two Mountains and the town’s broken flood dike.
The evacuations took place in an area covering from First to 20th Ave. south of Oka Rd., as well as 20th to 45th Ave. south of Louise St. The flooded area extends over a four-kilometre wide area that is a half-kilometre wide.
In some parts of the affected area, water rose last Saturday evening just after the dike break to the roof level of some houses. As widely reported by many media, it all happened so quickly that displaced residents are likely to suffer post traumatic shock for months and years to come.
The evacuation order came despite the fact that volunteers had worked hard stacking sandbags to keep Sainte-Marthe’s existing dike sturdy and safe. Since then, workers have begun installing makeshift dams, although the flood waters are not expected to recede significantly for a few weeks.
