Canada/Edmundston to help disaster victims in Saint-Jacques neighbourhood

The City of Edmundston has announced the creation of a "working committee focused on resilience" to help citizens affected by the June 29 storm and find long-term solutions to better cope with the weather.

The violent rainstorm caused a lot of damage for residents of the Saint-Jacques district. Many were left with water and sewer backups in their basements.

In early July, a citizens' committee was formed to demand a better sewage system.

According to committee co-spokesman David Couturier, 75% of those who reported being affected by the bad weather were residents of the Saint-Jacques district.

People feel alone physically, psychologically and financially. Those are the three watchwords we've been hearing for the past two weeks," he said at Tuesday night's City of Edmundston public meeting.

The damage we've suffered is beyond financial.

A quote from David Couturier

The municipal council, in the several meetings we've had since the 29th, the first thing we agreed on is that we're going to support you in your efforts," replied Edmundston mayor Éric Marquis.

Help and prevention

In addition to repairing the sewer system, the citizen's committee would like the city to implement a strategy to improve its infrastructure for the future.to improve its rainwater management infrastructure within a year, and that the work be completed by June 30, 2028.

He is also asking that financial aid be granted soon to disaster victims and that a plan to improve communications and emergency measures be in place by September 30, 2023.

We decided to set dates because we want things to move forward," said Éric Desroches, co-spokesperson for the Saint-Jacques neighborhood citizens' committee.

For the moment, the city has yet to specify which parts of these recommendations will be considered and what the timetable will be.

We do know, however, that the resilience committee will be set up in the near future, that it will be made up of municipal employees and members of the citizens' committee, and that its aim will be to find long-term solutions.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/