ST-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU - Sunday began with some dry news for residents of the flood-ravaged areas south of Montreal. In some regions, water had receded as much as 10 centimeters the day prior. 

Prime Minister Harper announced plans to tour the area Monday. He is slated to arrive in St. Jean to meet local mayors at 10:30 a.m. and then conduct an aerial tour of the region afterwards. Harper has been criticized by many in the area after his Conservative government pulled Canadian armed forces out of the cleanup effort.

On Saturday Premier Charest announced specifics of a giant cleanup plan involving up to 12,000 volunteers.

Ten thousand volunteers have offered assistance over two weekends in an initiative organized by SOS Richelieu, making it one of the biggest volunteer undertakings in Quebec history.

Add another 2,000 from other organizations such as the Red Cross, Canadian Rescue and St. John's Ambulance and the initiative ranks up there with the Ice Storm and the Saguenay floods.

The work will take place June 11 and 12 as well as June 18 and 19, with 1,700 to 2,000 people appointed various tasks in designated areas, starting in the spots where the water has already receded.

Those wishing to volunteer for the effort can sign up here.

Sandbags will be removed, debris raked up and tossed out. In Venise-en-Quebec, one of the worst-ravaged spots, 20 large trucks of debris have already been shipped out.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest was on the scene Saturday for his fifth visit to the area and praised the volunteers

"We will organize the volunteers, assign them tasks and make sure that they have the equipment that they need," said Charest. He promised to ensure, "that they're organized with specific things that they can do so that they can fulfill their wish to help out."

Michel Fecteau of SOS Richelieu also promised that the workers would be well-equipped.

"They are going to have gloves, masks and products to clean their hands as well as protection against mosquitoes," he said.

Charest described the volunteers as, "young people with a lot of compassion," in a press conference Saturday.

Around $7 million in compensation has been distributed via 2,600 cheques to 3,000 flood victims, according to provincial cabinet minister Robert Dutil.

With files from Canadian Press.