UPDATE - Canadian Armed Forces assisting civilian authorities with the management of flooded areas in Quebec

May 7, 2017– Montreal – Joint Task Force (East)

Approximately 800 additional military members of 2 Canadian Division from Base Valcartier are deploying today to support civilian authorities with the Government of Quebec’s emergency response to floods in the region.

The troops are joining the more than 400 Canadian Armed Forces members already deployed in the areas of Saint-Jean sur Richelieu, Shawinigan, Laval and Gatineau, bringing the total to about 1200 military personnel. The troops, along with aviation assets, engineer assets, and 12 boats from the Naval Reserve, are positioned to support and react to the needs that have been identified in coordination with our civilian partners..

The Canadian Armed Forces are assisting the civil and municipal security teams already on the ground in order to increase the current effort until the situation improves. Some of the tasks members of the Canadian Armed Forces are to conduct are:

• Distribution and filling of sandbags to help solidify existing structures and protect critical infrastructure.
• Assistance through the use of military vehicles to the civil authorities to maintain traffic on critical arteries and help evacuate citizens to safe areas. 
• Presence patrols to monitor critical infrastructure and safety of citizens. 
• Preventive reinforcement of dikes and walls of protection of critical infrastructure such as water treatment plants and bridges.
• The Canadian Armed Forces are ready to support civilian partners such as the Canadian Red Cross in the supply of shelters.