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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:'