Quebec flood victims can rebuild in region

Quebecers who lost their Richelieu Valley flood plain homes during the record-breaking spring rain season will be allowed to rebuild in the area.

Premier Jean Charest has announced more measures to help flood victims overcome the calamity that battered the region three months ago.

Heavy rains along the eastern seabord in late April and May caused unprecedented water levels in Lake Champlain, with spilloff flooding the Richelieu River.

The river burst its banks and spread across the Richelieu Valley, forcing hundreds of people from their homes for weeks.

Many homes were destroyed and have had to be demolished. But concerns about rebuilding in a flood plain have delayed new home construction.

Now the government has created a special zone in the valley that will allow some flood victims to rebuild "on the condition that [people] rebuild by immunizing their homes from future floods," Charest said Thursday, after touring the region.

People in the "2 to 20" zone will eventually be able to apply for compensation — up to $150,000 per household intent on rebuilding, Charest said.

Eligibility criteria will be fleshed out next month at a series of consultation meetings.

The "two to 20" designation describes an area along the Richelieu River prone to one or two flooding episodes every 20 years.

Charest also met with mayors from the area to take stock of progress of general rebuilding efforts.

Local mayors are concerned about the long-term impact on small businesses in the area. "People think that Saint-Paul is still under water," said Gérard Dutil, mayor of Saint-Paul-de-l'Ile-aux-Noix.

During the spring flooding in Montérégie, more than 2,500 homes were flooded and 1,651 people were evacuated.