le Mercier residents could be forced to leave, says Denis Coderre

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says the city may have no choice but to force residents ofthe flooded community of leMercierto leave their homes.

"We're facing an imminent decision to enact emergency measures,"he saidduring a visit to the island Friday."We have the authority to issue such an order."

Coderre said a structural assessment of the only bridge connecting leMercier, which is currently underwater, to neighbouring leBizard found the road surface is deteriorating and may soon be unfit for cars and trucks to use.

"If people can't get over the bridge, we have to think about getting them out," Coderre said.

A decision on whether residents will be evacuated from the island is expected Saturday morning.

leMercier hasbeen under a voluntaryevacuation order and the residents of 19homes have left, but residents in 27 others are refusing to leave.

Coderre said a forced evacuation order could be issued after he speaks with the city's fire chief.

• Quebec municipalities prepare for more flooding as rain approaches
• Everything you need to know about flooding in and around Montreal

City response criticized

As Coderre spoke, island residents continued their work piling sandbags around their properties in a last-ditchbid to keep the rising water at bay.

The City of Montreal has faced criticism forits response to flooding in the community, notably with regards to thedistribution of sandbags.

le Mercier resident Helen Guilbault told CBC Montreal's Daybreak Friday that she's had a request in with the city since Wednesday for a pallet of sandbags, butthey hadyet to turn up.

"I was told no problem, the sandbagswould be there[Wednesday] afternoon," she said.

When the sandbags didn't arrive, Guilbault called 311and found herself on hold for 45 minutes. She eventually had to hang up.

"The city sandbags were never delivered," she said.

Guilbault said part of the problem is other residents are directing city crews arriving on the tiny island to their homes instead.

'Doing the best that we can', says Anie Samson

In an interview with CBC on Friday, Anie Samson, the executive committee member responsible for public security, said the city "is doing everything that we can do" for residents affected by the flooding.

"All my people are in the field, they're working very hard, 24 hours a day," Samson said. "They contact the people, ask them if they want to go to the shelter, and we're providing them with sandbags."

When told about Guilbault's experience, Samson said she would look into it.

"I understand how they feel, but we're doing the best that we can," she said.

Samson also criticized the general manager of Montreal'sPierrefonds-Roxboro borough, who ordered thousands of sandbags destroyed just prior to this week's flooding.

"That's very unacceptable and irresponsible," she said.

• EXCLUSIVE:Pierrefonds-Roxboro workers were ordered to destroy sandbags days before flooding

Samson acknowledged that it's been a long time since the city was faced with this kind of flooding.

"It's all new for us. Mother Nature is very difficult to follow," she said.

"Nothing is perfect, but we tried to do everything that we can do to ensure people are secure."

Army on standby to help

Samson said Montreal's civil security bureau holds meetings every hour with officials to keep them informed about water levels, adding "they're working 24 hours a day."

Asked about an assertion by Canada's military that its personnel are ready to help if necessary, Samson said the city would welcome the assistance.

"I think we're going to need all the help we can have because this weekend it's not finished. If people want to volunteer to help, we're open to that."

Later in the afternoon, Quebec Public Security Minister Martin Coiteuxannounced the Canadian military will be deployed to the "most affected areas" across the province,but wouldn't say exactly where.

• Quebec to receive military assistance to deal with flooding

City response better in April, resident says

Guilbault said the city's response to some minor flooding on leMercierin April was much betterorganized compared to what she's seeing now.

"They brought sandbags and put them in front of every house," she said.

• leBizard, leMercierresidents criticize West Island borough's sandbag distribution

The only problem was city workers returned andtook them away as soon as the water receded.

"But lakes up north were still frozen, and it appears people in charge down here weren't aware of that," she said.

On Thursday, the mayor of L'le-BizardSainte-Genevive,NormandMarinacci, admitted the borough made a mistake when it picked up residents' sandbags thefirst time.

Related stories:

• Mix of 'rare events' led to rapid rise of floodwaters in Montreal's West Island, prof says
• Flooding: What to do if it happens to you
• Bird's-eye view reveals full extent of west Quebec flood
• LIVE BLOG:The latest on Friday's flooding situation in Quebec