Hundreds evacuated in Saint Raymond and Sherbrooke

Some 400 residents of Sherbrooke, Que. are being allowed to cautiously return to their homes after floods forced over 650 people in the town to evacuate.

The Saint Francois River has began receding, after swelling to 25 feet -- just short of the record set in 1982.

In St-Raymond, just west of Quebec City, about 300 people were forced from their homes, including four residences for seniors because of flooding of the Sainte-Anne River.

Those displaced were brought to stay at a variety of high schools, hotels and other community resource facilities in the city of 10,000, which sits 60 km’s northwest of Quebec City.

St-Raymond's downtown and schools were closed until further notice.The same area was flooded twice in 2012, forcing 700 people from their homes.

Authorities in Quebec City said an emergency prepardness plan had been activated, as the water levels of several rivers had reached crisis level.

-- with files from the Canadian Press

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  People walk through a flooded street as the St. Francois river overflows its banks Wednesday, April 16, 2014 in Lennoxville, Quebec. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

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  People look at a flooded street as the St. Francois river overflows its banks Wednesday, April 16, 2014 in Lennoxville, Quebec. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

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  About 300 were forced from their homes in the city of Saint Raymond Tuesday evening. (Image: Google Maps)