A city councillor representing one of the flooded areas in Ottawa says illness will be a concern during the long cleanup that lies ahead.
West Carleton Councillor Eli El-Chantiry said Ottawa Public Health officials have told councillors that anyone helping in the cleanup will have to be protected.
"Everything touched by the water has the possibility of contamination," El-Chantiry told city council.
"The wood you see on the road, any furniture, any wall, any carpet, the possibility is that it's contaminated because the river is contaminated."
El-Chantiry added that sewer backups in flooded areas have added to the threat.
City manager Steve Kanellakos told council that his staff will have a complete recovery plan ready to go later Wednesday.
Volunteers can sign up at the city's website.
Meantime, the city is opening four information centres for flood victims, at the sites of the public meetings held over the past two days.
They will be open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, with future hours of operation to be decided later this week.
Locations include...
• Community Hall at the R.J. Kennedy Arena, 1115 Dunning Road (Cumberland)
• Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre East Parking Lot, 102 Greenview Avenue (Britannia)
• Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Centre, 262 Len Purcell Drive (Woodlawn)
• Fitzroy Harbour Community Centre, 100 Clifford Campbell Street (Fitzroy Harbour)