‘I have two hands and I’m an able body:’ neighbours helping neighbours as flood waters continue to rise

As water levels continued to rise on Sunday, the city put out a call for more volunteers to come lend a hand in both Cumberland and Constance Bay. 

Genevieve Landry lives on Leo Lane in Cumberland and was hoping people could find it in their hearts to help out.

“We find people are extremely generous with their time and we're very appreciative of that,” she told 1310 NEWS. “But, we need more sandbags.” 

Landry explained that the reaction from the city of Ottawa was much better this time around compared to the last flood in 2017. 

“They've taken care of blocking the highway, keeping people safe, they have an OC Transpo bus that has been carrying volunteers from their cars to here (Leo Lane) and Morin road,” Landy said. “We're quite pleased with the huge efforts they've put in to organizing this.” 

A local politician answered the call on Easter Sunday, filling sandbags with other volunteers.

Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell said the spirit of Easter brought him out to help those in need.

“I have two hands and I'm an able body so that's the way I can help my community.” said Drouin.  

Here's a full list of where you can pick up sandbags:

Ottawa

Central Ottawa:

– 29 Hurdman Road
– 1683 Woodward Drive
– Jamieson Street at the Ottawa River
– Rowatt Street at the Ottawa River
– Belltown Dome (2915 Haughton Avenue)
– 2888 Grandeur Avenue

East end:

– 2264 Colonial Road (Navan)
– 911 Industrial Avenue

West end:

– 2941 March Roadd
– 4127 John Shaw
– 2121 Huntley Road
– 1655 Maple Grove Road
– 262 Len Purcell Drive
– Beach at Moorhead Drive
– Greenland Road at Armitage Avenue
– Kingdom Mines Road and Logger's Way
– Grandview in the Park (Barry Mullen Park)
– Richmond Memorial Community Centre – 6095 Perth Street
– MacLarens Landing at the boat launch

South end:

– 2145 Roger Stevens Drive
– 4244 Rideau Valley Drivee
– 1159 Moodie Drive on Dibblee Road – across from 101 Dibblee Road

Gatineau 

– corner of Cartier and des Rapides
– corner of Saint-Louis and Moreau
– 3 rue Saint-Antoine
– corner of Saint-André and Saint-Paul
– parc du Lucerne
– parc du Racicot (former Campeau/Hurtubise site).

Aylmer

– Aréna Frank-Robinson (former parc Louis-Roy site)
– Parc du Tourbillon.

Masson-Angers sector

– corner of du Fer-à-Cheval and du Quai (launching ramp)
– corner of du Ruisseau and Lasalle.