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Planning is underway at the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces to deploy military personnel in the Ottawa area to help deal with flooding.

Military officials have been closely following the flood situation in Ontario and have maintained close coordination with key officials, the department noted in a statement issued Thursday night.

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“The Canadian Armed Forces has received the City of Ottawa’s request for assistance and is readying to deploy,” it stated. “The CAF stands ready and is actively working with civilian authorities to determine where and how the CAF can best assist.”

“In partnership with other government departments, Canadian Armed Forces personnel and equipment are always on stand-by to respond to emergencies wherever and whenever required,” the statement noted.

More details about the military deployment are expected Friday.

Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, said in a statement Thursday that the Government Operations Centre has dedicated staff working to coordinate the federal response to the flooding situation in Ontario. “Officials are working closely with federal and Ontario partners on planning the details this assistance, including support from Canadian Armed Forces,” Goodale said. “Citizens can rest assured that help will be provided.”

The Government Operations Centre, in Ottawa, acts as a nerve centre to co-ordinate the emergency response of the federal government to major security threats, from weather disasters to other national calamities. It operates around the clock, monitoring everything from world events and potential global threats to major domestic demonstrations.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson announced Thursday that the city had formally requested the support of the Canadian Armed Forces. Watson said he expects 400 military personnel to be in key areas by Friday.