Ryan Handfield and Alex Peters, a young couple from Montreal, were devastated when a flood forced them out of their condo 13 months ago. They were finally ready to move back in, only to find that their newly renovated basement had been ruined in another flood. Their home, located on Victoria Street in Montreal’s Lachine borough, sits in an area prone to flooding. Despite requests for help ahead of the storm, preventive measures such as additional sandbags and workers on standby were not implemented, leading to significant damage to their property and others in the building.
Robert Lynch, a fellow owner in the condominium building, had contacted municipal services ahead of the storm to ask for help, but assistance only arrived after the flooding had already begun. Lynch and other residents have faced multiple floods in the past, with some having to spend large sums of money to repair damages and find temporary housing. The infrastructure for water collection and drainage on Victoria Street needs an upgrade to prevent future flooding, as water from city buses can push water onto lawns and windows during minor floods.
Residents of Victoria Street scrambled to save their belongings and bail water out as floodwaters gushed into apartments, causing substantial damage. For Handfield and Peters, this was a traumatic experience as they had previously been forced out of their home by a flood just two months before their wedding. The couple faced numerous challenges in rebuilding their home, including insurance coverage, delayed construction, and rising condo fees. Their property value has diminished significantly, and they are once again facing the prospect of rebuilding and recovering from the damages caused by the flood.
Jay Galang, another resident of the building, had only recently moved back into his home after the previous flood. With his wife in school and himself as the sole breadwinner, the financial burden of another flood is significant. The residents are collectively calling on the Lachine borough to address the infrastructure issues that have led to multiple floods in the area. The mayor of Lachine, Maja Vodanovic, acknowledged that the current infrastructure could not handle the heavy rainfall, and plans for a wall to keep floodwaters out have been proposed by residents. However, additional help from provincial and federal governments will be needed to address the ongoing issues.
Mayor Vodanovic stated that emergency measures need to be improved, and the city will have to address local infrastructure issues to prepare for future weather events. Residents will also need to find ways to protect their properties, as the current infrastructure is not sufficient to prevent flooding. Condo owners are facing mounting stresses, both financially and emotionally, as they deal with the aftermath of yet another flood. Galang expressed concerns about burning out from the back-to-back setbacks and the toll it has taken on his family, emphasizing the need to find a way to move forward and prevent future disasters.
