HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-24, Page 3al -Star • Wednesday, August 24, 2011
derich begins recovery process
s complete devastation
rry.
matter of a few terrifying
•s a devastating tornado
ted to be as strong as F3
through Goderich Sun-
ernoon Just before 4 p.m.,
one person at the salt
rid destroying complete
uurhoods including the
initial estimates, labeled the
weather event as an upper end
F2 or low end F3 strength tor-
nado with winds measuring
from 250 too 320 km per hour.
"It's been 15 years since there
was an p3 tornado in Ontario,"
he said. "The core area was.
destroyed and the upper storey's
of building had roofs torn off.
We will have a more detailed
assessment tomorrow
(Monday)
business district, The
were uprooted and top -
houses .and buildings
4i ro: lines were downed
.i wide area of town as
natio cleared a destruc-
th up West Street to the
e and completely
ed an area around Victo-
Park Streets over to
a Road and beyond.
y Mawson of Environ -
tnada was on the scene
y afternoon and after.
Residents reported an horrific
bout of fist -sized hail, followed
by the roar that sounded like "a
freight train". Some residents of
Saltford reported seeing the
funnel cloud with debris flying
from its perimeter.
Me town's mayor, Deb Shew-
felt, declared a state of emer-
gency and was choked up in
addressing a press conference
late Sunday evening.
"At 3:50.p.m. the town was
struck by a weather system that
caused catastrophic damage to
the town and salt mine and we
are sad to report one fatality
and several .people injured.
"Emergency services were on
the ground immediately after
the storm and the safety and
security of residents is of prime
concern."
Police confirmed that Sifto
Salt employee Norman Laberge,
61 of Lucknow was killed in the
Weather event at the mine area
when the loading boom he was
working in was compromised
by the weather. Police reported
Sunday night that as many as 37
people had been treated for
minor injuries at. Alexandra
Marine and General Hospital:
By Monday morning, there
were no outstanding reports of
missing persons and police had
checked buildings throughout
the night looking for any sign of
trapped or injured residents. A
specialized OPP team was also
on its way from Toronto to
examine and report on the
structural integrity of buildings
damaged in the tornado. Many
of those damaged building were
heritage structures housing
about 150 businesses in the
Square area.
Dazed, confused and dis-
traught residents wandered the
area in the aftermath of the storm
looking for neighbours, friends,
loved ones and pets. Trees,
limbs, lumber, assorted twisted
metal debris and downed power
lines made navigating town
streets impossible and gas leaks
quickly prompted police. to evac-
uate a wide area including the
Square as the pungent odour of
natural gas permeated the air.
Gas service was closed off to the
photos by Dominique Milburn, Goderich Signal -Stat
entire town Sunday to prevent any
explosions.
Damage to businesses and houses
will clearly be in the millions of dollars
but no estimate will be available.
Access to town and damaged areas
was restricted and police services from
Oxford, Waterloo Region, Perth, Elgin
and Middlesex were in town to assist
with traffic control and emergency
services personnel
Only a portion of the town had hydro
restored Monday and crews were
working feverishly to ensure that hydro
was safely restored to an area in the
south and west areas including retire-
ment residences:
People wandered in to the Emer-
gency shelter and command centre set
up at the Columbus Centre on Parsons
Court and all day people brought in
food and drink and offers of accom=
modation for those disadvantaged in
the storm.
Sue Rempel of Oakville was just pass-
ing through town with her family on the
way to a cottage holiday when the storm
forced the family to pull off Hwy 21 on
Victoria Street at St. David Street.
"It was like something you only see
on television,' she said at the commu-
nity shelter. "When the hail started we
thought we would wait out the storm
and pulled off on St. David Street. The
car began to shake in the wind, trees
were flying and soon the car was
rocking."
The most severe damage was on West
Street where buildings on the north side
of the street sustained extensive dam-
age. Claude and Linda Reaume of West
Coast Kitchens lost both their business
and residence that was above the store.
The Menesetung Canoe Club was dam..
aged as were most buildings along that
business section.
Sgt. Shawn Johnson of the. Huron
OPP told the press Monday that the
"'safety and security of residents" was
of paramount importance.
"We are asking people to stay out of
the .core area, he said. We need to
provide a safe area for responders to
work in andwe are doing everything'.
we can for the residents. The job is well
in hand:'