Local mayors representing flooded regions in Quebec request relaxation of rebuilding laws

Despite flooding along the Richelieu River in Quebec, local mayors in the flooded areas have asked the provincial government to relax a ban forbidding people from rebuilding homes in so-called ‘0/20′ zones, The Gazette in Montreal reports.‘0/20′ zones are sections along the river that have been known to flood every 20 years. Quebec passed a law in 2007 forbidding people from rebuilding their homes in these areas. Approximately 230 centimetres of rain since April 2011 has flooded the Richelieu River, and 1,467 people in the area have been evacuated from their homes, according to the Globe and Mail. The flooding is estimated to have affected 2,660 homes and 334 cottages,As reported in a Gazette editorial, local mayors say that without some latitude on the rules of reconstruction in the flooded areas, small towns along the Richelieu stand to lose property tax revenue. The mayors believe rebuilding should be allowed in 0/20 areas, provided the standard homes are rebuilt on stilts. Also, they believe standard-home reconstruction should be allowed so long as those homes are rebuilt without basements.Insurance does not cover overland flooding and as a result, the provincial government has issued close to 2,000 cheques to flood victims covering slightly more than $4 million in compensation, The Gazette reports.