A local state of emergency remains in effect northwest of Arnprior along the Ottawa River after weekend flooding damaged homes and forced evacuations.
McNab/Braeside Township officials believe the worst of the wet weather has passed, with waters now receding following torrential rain on Friday and Saturday.
But with additional thunderstorms forecast for Sunday, fire fighters have applied more sandbags and dug trenches to divert water from threatened properties in the Rhoddy's Bay community.
Four residences at Rhoddy's Bay were evacuated Saturday because of erosion and structural damage. Emergency crews made house-to-house checks there and at nearby Sand Point after washed-out roads cut off access to the small riverside communities between Arnprior and Renfrew.
Ministry of Environment officials have begun assessing the damage, which includes continuing soil erosion along the slope of the Ottawa River. Their provincial counterparts from the Ministry of Municipal of Municipal Affairs and Housing will be on scene over the next few days.
McNab/Braeside Fire Chief Rob Brown has requested help from the Ministry of Natural Resources to prevent possible land slides. Ontario Hydro and Ottawa Valley Railway are also in the area to inspect and fix any damages.
A boil water advisory remains for affected residents in the emergency zone between the river and Goshen Road, and between Division Street and Storie Road.
Damaged Renfrew County roads have been fully repaired, but the following township roads remain restricted to local traffic:
- Scheel Drive (McLean Drive to Carmichael Side Road)
- Clifford Side Road (Milton Stewart Road to Millar Road)
- Maple Bend Road
