ST-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU - After the massive flood in the Richelieu Valley, focus has shifted to the immense job of cleaning up, and planning renovations.
Linda Meunier wasn't planning to do home renovations this summer, but now she has no choice.
"I'm starting to get fed up," she told CTV Montreal's Maya Johnson.
Most of the flood water is finally out of her basement -- but mouldy walls and damaged floors were left behind.
Hiring help will cost too much money, so Meunier and her husband will redo the floors and walls themselves.
At an information session at a hotel in St. Jean sur Richelieu, renovation experts were on hand to answer questions and give residents advice. About 3,000 homes were damaged in the flood.
"All of this to prevent further damages to either their health or their property, so when the water will finally be gone they will be able to make certain decisions based on the maximum knowledge we could share with them," said Mario Caetano, head of the company Firas.
Christian Levesque came with his 78-year-old father -- who's been forced out of his home.
"In the basement everything is finished," he said.
"We stripped everything, but we have water coming in again. It won't stop. We have water all around the house."
The flooding and the aftermath have been taking their toll on water-weary residents.
The water levels of Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River are stable for now, though more bad weather and strong winds from the south could change everything again on Sunday or Monday.
"The people are tired," said Yvan Leroux of Quebec Civil Security
"It is very important for the people to see the people that are at the CLSC, Info-Sante and 8-1-1."
