MONTREAL - The flood watch continued Monday along rivers and lakes in the Monteregie, south of Montreal.
Rain has already led to flooding on the Richelieu River and there's more rain in the forecast, raising concern the Montreal area could be next.
Anywhere between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain could fall by the end of the week, which would further compound the problems for communities like l'Ile Aux Noix, on the shores of the Richelieu River about 60 kilometres south of Montreal.
"I've got two sump pumps ready, they're working 24 hours," resident Andre Bertrand told CTV Montreal's Catherine Sherriffs. "I've got the generator ready if we miss electricity."
Others are preparing the more traditional sand bags for their properties, many of which already fell victim to flooding in several waterways in southern Quebec, forcing residents to deal with sopping basements.
"I'm helping neighbours with sand bags and bringing it over to where we live and dumping it," said Lorne Ulley, "and coming back once or twice a day to give them a hand."
With roads flooded in this small community, many turned to their motorboats to get around.
In the Monteregie, the Quebec flood prediction centre warned that Lake Champlain, the Richelieu River, the Acadie River and St. Pierre Lake were all at risk of flooding.
Residents near Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River said they witnessed waves up to four feet high after strong south winds on Saturday pushed more water than usual into the waterways.
Officials say nearly 50 homes in the Monteregie region had flooded basements, including Lionel Remillard, who said he's seen it all before.
"We're used to it. We have to be," said Remillard, who lives along the Richelieu River.
Despite a flooded basement, l'Ile aux Noix homeowners Fred and Andreana Black kept their senses of humour, fishing in the streets.
