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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1969-07-24, Page 19YC • 'MERCHANTS HIT HARD — Several merchants were hit hard, such as the Canadian Tire store where the stock-filled basement was completely flooded. Owner Ross Bygrave sorts through the cans and other merchandise as the giant clean-up campaign commenced. • Hospital hardest hit -like starting again 1(ettetedted Interested in helping victims of Thursday's flood and storm? The Exeter and District 'Disaster Fund committee will welcome all interested parties and service, farm and civic club representatives to a special meeting in Exeter's town hall on Wednesday, August 6 at 8:00 p.m. The meeting will be called to organize a canvass throughout the area and also to discuss special projects that can be conducted to raise funds for those who suffered damages. The meeting will be open to anyone interested in offering assistance or who has any ideas on what projects could be conducted. IT CAME TOO QUICKLY The surging waters came too quickly for any. action. These cars are shown floating around the rear yard at Snell Bros. Ltd. and the men were in the waters trying to keep the floating vehicles from smashing into each other. 4 allot? Did you suffer damage in Thursday's rain, hail and flood? If so, you should immediately pick up forms at the clerk's office in your municipality so the information regarding your damages can be turned into the Exeter and District Disaster Fund committee. Forms for crop damage for farmers in Usborne and Stephen are available at the offices of Clerks Harry Strang and Wilmar Wein. These should be filled in as soon as possible and not later than August 9. In Exeter, forms enabling businessmen and private homeowners to indicate their losses, are available at the office of Clerk Eric Carscadden. The committee asks that these forms be picked up and filled in as quickly as possible and not later than August 20. The forms in no way make the municipalities or the Disaster Fund committee liable for any damages suffered in the storm and flood. However, they are the only method to be used in determing each citizen's loss to give an indication of what funds will be needed and how any funds raised for the Fund will be dispersed. U.w,14,4.45 .0.444,1140 WORKING CONDITIONS NOT THE REST The Exeter OPP detachment office in the basement of the Devon building was completely filled with water. This photo was taken as the waters were being pumped out, showing the mess that is now being cleaned up. The police are making temporary headquarters at the town hall. hospital will be back in operation. Miss Claypole just would not estimate a re-opening date until the full extent of the damage could be assessed. Monday morning the hospital was still without full electrical power. The furnace room was still under water, only one telephone in the hospital was working and the windows were wide open to let out the stench of flood water and propane gas. During the height of the flood, a pipe from the propane tanks to one of the dryers in the basement laundry burst. The basement ceiling caught fire but the flames were quickly qxtinguished by the flood water. Hdspital robins upstairs were filled with smoke. Miss Claypole described the explosion as the most frightening part of the whole ordeal for her. She said all the patients were quickly moved to the east wing where they would be safe in case "the whole thing went". In the pharmacy where Mrs. Ivan Bennewies RN, Dublin, was putting drugs and dressings on higher shelves minutes before the flood waters filled the icy water. But her near escape from drowning did not prevent her from taking her part during the emergency which faced the entire hospital staff. "She just got into dry clothes and kept going," Miss Claypole remarked. However, Mrs. Bennewies is not likely to forget the afternoon of July 24. Monday morning when she was at work with the rest of the mop-up crew in the hospital basement she made sure she was not backed into a corner. "I don't like small spaces any more," she said quietly. Returns to duties after near tragedy It was a vacant musty shell a that greeted South Huron Hospital Administrator Miss Alice Claypole RN Monday morning following Thursday's flood. About the only bright spot for her was the "wonderful co-operation" she has had from the staff, the doctors, the board, the community, neighboring hospitals, hospital suppliers and of course, the patients who were in the hospital at the time of the flooding. "I didn't realize you could be so isolated," Miss Claypole • remarked. "We've lost everything. It will be just like opening thislospital for the first time." Her voice broke, as she remembered the book she kept when she opened South Huron • Hospital 17 years ago. Those records, along with thousands of others, were destroyed by the water which actually filled the hospital basement. "I can still hear the swishing of the water in the basement," she noted shaking her head. "I still don't know where some of the furniture is." It is not known just when the "One minute the water was up to my ankles. The next minute it was up to my waist and rising!" That in a nutshell was the • plight of Mrs. Ivan Bennewies RN, Dublin, who was trapped in the basement pharmacy room at South Huron Hospital Thursday when the flood hit. Mrs. Bennewies was in the pharmacy putting medical supplies on higher shelves. • Suddenly the window in the pharmacy broke open and the raging water gushed in, filling the room in just a few minutes. As well a door between the pharmacy and a storeroom was forced open by the strong current of water there. Mrs. Jean Wilson RN who was • also in the hospital basement waded through the knee-deep water in the corridor to see why water was pouring out of the pharmacy. She saw Mrs. Bennewies up on the cupboards and noted that a desk blocking • the doorway was holding the water in the pharmacy. Mrs. Wilson freed the desk but the water increased in density. She went for help. In the meantime the screams of Mrs. Bennewies, now in neck-deep water, had alerted • other hospital staff who went to her aid. Alex Meikle, William Berends and Richard Mellenger were assisted by W. M. Biernacki, Mechron Engineering Products who was making a routine check at the hospital, to rescue Mrs. Bennewies. When they got within about eight feet of the nurse they were able to throw her a fire hose and pull her to safety. In recounting her experience, Mrs. Bennewies recalled there Was "no place to go" in the watery pharmacy. "Things were floating that I had no idea would float," she Said. Mrs. Wilson remembered the refrigerator which passed out of the pharmacy after she removed the desk from the doorway. Mrs. Bennewies, who suffered only minor bruises, could not estimate how long she was'in the Unbelievable! That was probably the word used most often to describe the scene witnessed by Exeter arid area residents when a torrential rain and hail storm turned the area into a large lake and a turbulent flood stream Thursday, Ironically, most area farmers and local residents had been hoping for a rain, but none bargained for the deluge which struck. It caused a flash flood that went rampaging through the downtown area with such force that it carried cars and trucks as far as 100 feet and even overturned one vehicle. On Marlboro St., the water crept up to first storey windows at the homes of Mrs, Ralph Bailey and Mike Bourne and in several homes in the flood area the water completely filled basements and recreation rooms. The rain — estimated at between five and ten inches in some spots — lasted for almost four hours and filled fields and back yards before the water started to find its own level and headed to the storm drain running through town from Edward St. to the railroad tracks. Hail stones the size of marbles accompanied the downpour and the combination kept most people indoors. This was one of the reasons why few witnessed the buildup of water as it started its journey through the community. By the time residents and merchants saw it coming, it was too late. Within seconds it was cascading down the path of the old creek bed and people working within a few feet of their cars had to stand idly by as the water seeped into the doom and windows. It came like a tidal wave! In offices such as that occupied by the OPP at the Devon Building, the officers had to scramble out the doors with what they could carry in their arms as the water rushed into the basement and rose several inches in seconds. There was no opportunity for return trips to salvage any records. At Snell Bros. Ltd. the employees managed to move only three cars before the water had risen so high that it was coming in the vehicles' windows. The rapid build-up of water was among the things most difficult to imagine, Jim Hennessey reported ,that he had gone home to check his basement for water during the storm and at that time there was no - indication of ffooding or what was to follow. In less than 20 minutes his wife phoned to report that cars were being washed past their home on Ann St. by the stream which picked up velocity as it descended over the street grade at Main St. Three blocks west the waters spread out and covered a distance from Ann to Sanders St. with the depth ranging up to five feet. A few residents in this area had time to save a few articles from their basements, but the encroaching waters all too quickly made this impossible and the owners had to wade farther up to high ground to watch helplessly as the waters spilled into and around their homes. The water in the Devon, Building basement rose to street level in minutes and was flowing in the front door at South Huron Hospital. The town was soon divided by the waters which stretched from James St. to several yards south of Huron St. Drivers wishing to get from one side to the other had to drive east or west to the concession roads in Stephen and Usborne, South Huron Hospital was among the hardest hit and damage has already been listed at $100,000, Considerable damage was also reported at Dinney Furniture, Canadian Businesses severely hit "This beats any flood we have ever had", was the comment of Ulric Snell owner of Snell Bros. Ltd., which faced the brunt of the raging waters of Thursday's flood. The last flooding of any account in Exeter occurred in the early morning hours of February 16, 1954. The water level reached 30 inches in the Snell's show and stock rooms. Mr. Snell said loss would be high in the parts department. Nine new cars in the lot were "well dunked" and bumped around by the high waters. They have been taken back by the insurance company. The only loss on these suffered by the local auto sales company is on transportation and servicing. After the flood waters had receded, the gas pumps at Snell's were checked and found free of water. Across the road at Tuckey Beverages, manager Bill Gilfillan said the flood loss in cartons, cans, cups, sugar, and labels would be high but couldn't determine a figure. "We are fortunate, we are still in business because everybody worked hard in cleaning up and we are able to maintain shifts around the clock," added Gilfillan. At Milt's Cycle Shop, a number of lawn motors which had been repaired will need to be serviced again due to water damage. Damage at the Canadian Tire Store occurred in the basement particularly to Christmas and winter decorations and hockey and skating .equipment. The floor ended up:a mass of jumble of cartons and cans. A large amount of furniture at Dinney's Furniture suffered untold damage. Some of the water damaged stock was sold at reduced pribes early this week and the balance will be on sale the rest of the week. Water reached the main floor of the Devon building at the corner of Main and Huron Streets and completely flooded the basement offices of the Exeter detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and the Musical Academy. Some musical instruments were damaged. Water coming through the roof at the Chainway Store caused considerable damage to merchandise. A special water damage sale is also being held this week. Exeter Furniture got back into full production early Tuesday afternoon after being sidelined by Thursday's flood that sent 211/2 inches through the plant. More than 5,000 board feet of the finest Apalachian red oak lumber was covered by water and is being sent back to the supplier to be kiln dried. Owners Don and Roland McCaffery said church pew backs normally 20 inches in length had swollen to 20 9/16 inches after being covered by the flood waters. Some of the lumber is also turning "blue". Waterworks not polluted Contrary to numerous reports there was no pollution of Exeter's waterworks system during Thursday's flooding of town streets. PUC manager Hugh Davis said "There was no contamination at all. We did have a few slight pressure drops, but that was all." Davis went on to say, "I couldn't begin to hazard a guess as to damage. We have about 16 damaged hydro meters, but they are repairable. About $400 damage was caused to street light relays." 4'We were able to restore Service to the hospital Saturday afternoon. Things are pretty well under control now," added Davis. Works superintendent Jim Paisley said he had received an estimate of $2,500 to make the necessary road repairs to the Ann,Williare Street intersection. Paisley added that Walloy Construction of London had Offered the free use of a bulldozer loader for 10 hours to road repair work. One hydro transformer that was burnt out was taken to London for repairs and was expected back, Wednesday. Tire, Snell Bros, Ltd., Exeter Furniture Ltd, and Tuckey Beverages. Stories pf the damages to these places appears elsewhere and pictures will give an indication of the damage left in the storm's wake. Oddly enough, the awesome sight of the turbulent waters cascading down Ann St, were not seen for some time by many people only a few blocks away. Some downtown merchants and their employees didn't realize anything was amiss until they stepped out of work at 6:00 p.m, to see the sight. Others were driving home as usual when they came suddenly upon the scene, totally unaware that anything had taken place. However, word of the flood started to spread throughout the area shortly after 6:00 p.m. and the "banks" of the stream were crowded with onlookers. The force of the water were visibly evident as they started to recede. The intersection at William and Ann was undermined to a depth of six or seven feet under the sidewalk for several feet and the pavement had been eroded in half in the centre of the intersection. Other Funds are already arriving for the Exeter and District Disaster Fund which will give aid to persons affected in Exeter, Usborne and Stephen by Thursday's torrential rain, hail and flood. The machinery for the fund was set in motion at a special meeting in Exeter Friday afternoon. Huron MPP C. S. MacNaughton, Provincial Treasurer, flew home to view the damage and attend the meeting and told officials of the three communities that provincial assistance was "readily available". The provincial government follows a program whereby it matches dollar for dollar any funds raised by the local committee set up to administer funds where disasters occur. Terming the flood damage "incredible", Mr. MacNaughton said there was no doubt in his mind the province would provide the usual assistance. Mr. MacNaughton also made one of the first personal donations to the fund when Mayor Jack Delbridge suggested Exeter Councillor George Vriese pass his hat around among the 17 persons in attendance. Clerk Eric Carscadden totalled the money and the fund was already on its way with a total of $415. At a special meeting, Monday, Exeter council voted to donate $2,500 to the disaster fund. Another $50 was received from a man who had no damage at his home. "It was worth 50 bucks not to have the clean-up chore most people faced," he said in making his donation. All officials agree it is still too early to estimate the extent of the damage, although the figure has been cited at around $250,000. This will rise or fall, depending on what growth crops will take following the deluge, as well as what merchandise store owners can salvage and what homeowners can dry out and get back into their basements. South Huron Hospital, which was hardest hit with an estimated $100,000 damage, is expected to receive assistance from the Ontario Hospital Services Commission. Mr. MacNaughton met with gaping holes also stood as testimony to the strong current which had. prevailed, The heavy rain and hail also did considerable damage in addition to the flood. Hundreds of acres of crops were totally wiped out in Usborne and Stephen Townships. Corn and grain were ripped into shreds by the hail which was as large as marbles and in some locations completely covered the ground. Beans and turnips were pounded into the ground, and in some areas where the rain and hail failed to finish off the crops, the flooding waters completed the task as it made its way through Stephen Township. The crop damage covered an area about three miles both east and west of Exeter into the two townships and an area about three and a half miles wide from Highway 83 to the Crediton Road. Total loss was only suffered in a portion of that area, although most acreages will be affected to some extent by the storm. Gardens in Exeter were also severely damaged, again by flooding and hail. Commission officials in Toronto on Monday and advised that assistance would definitely be forthcoming, although at press time no figures had been suggested. Exeter Mayor Jack Delbridge will be chairman for the Disaster Fund and Eric Carscadden will be official treasurer, although funds will be received by Usborne Clerk Harry Strang and Stephen Clerk Wilmar D. Wein as well as the financial institutions in the three municipalities. The committee had its first official meeting Monday night. Members from Exeter include Mayor Delbridge, Deputy-Reeve Mery Cudmore and Councillor Helen Jermyn. Reeves Jim Hayter and Roy Westcott head up the representatives from Stephen and Usborne respectively. Deputy-Reeve Joe Dietrich and Councillor Gerald Dearing are the other Stephen representatives and those from Usborne are Councillors Walter McBride and Lloyd Ferguson. Also attending the meeting were Huron MP Robert McKinley and, Agricultural Representative Don Pullen," the latter giving a description of the crop damage he viewed in two trips into the area, one of which was by airplane. McKinley told the meeting he would check into the procedure for seeking assistance under the The mop-up in the area started shortly after the flood waters receded and in some spots is still going on — almost a week later, Fire crews from Hewitt], Crediton, Huron Park and Brucefield arrived to help the Exeter brigade start the long job Of pumping the water out of the hospital and the noise of pumps echoed throughout the community for three days as Merchants and homeowners faced the mammoth clean-up task. Most found the water comparatively easy to get rid of, but the back-breaking job came in clearing away the inches of dirt and grime which had accompanied the water. While the flood's path was difficult to see for the sightseers who arrived on the weekend, the area affected was clearly indicated by the front lawns cluttered with rugs, furniture and other possessions which had been set out to dry. It will be several weeks before all homeowners are back to normal and it will be years before the great flood of July 24, 1969 will pass from memory. National Disaster Fund. Hayter, who is also Warden of Huron, said he was certain • county council would provide assistance and indicated he may call a special meeting to deal with the matter. County council does not normally meet in the slimmer. In addition, the committee decided to call a meeting for Wednesday, August 6 at 8:00 p.m. in the Exeter Town Hall to organize a canvass throughout the district and to enlist the support of service groups in the area to promote special projects to raise funds. All service clubs, Federation of Agriculture members, other civic groups and any persons interested in assisting have been invited to attend the meeting. Those suffering damage from the storm and flood have been asked to pick up special forms at the various clerks offices to fill in so the committee can determine damage. Don Pullen helped draw up the crop damage report form and these are available at the offices of Harry Strang and Wilmar Wein. The forms should be picked up and filled in as quickly as possible and returned no later than August 9. Forms for Exeter residents are also available at the office of Eric Carscadden and must be returned before August 20. basement room, everything was in shambles. Drugs, dressings and other medical supplies floated away in the tide. Those that didn't escape the pharmacy were either water-soaked or if they were in air-tight containers, the labels were gone making identification of the contents impossible. At the request of hospital officials, RCMP recovered all of the narcotics and control drugs in a special cupboard in the basement. Thursday night Exeter police chief Ted Day appealed to parents and nearby residents to return all drugs which may have floated into their yards. By Friday afternoon, recovered drugs were being turned in and nurses were sorting through the collection for medications which were promptly flushed down the hospital toilets. By Monday the Pharmacy had been stripped of the cupboards which had helped to save the life of Mrs. Benneweis. The nurse had climbed onto the bottom cupboards when the water poured in through the barred windows. Those cupboards were destroyed. All the vital operations of the hospital were cut off. Miss Claypole said Monday that all the motors for the equipment would have to be 'baked" — Please turn to Page 13 IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE! 0 Exeter council gives $2,500 Disaster fund established