HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-24, Page 26Wednesday, August 24, 2011 • Signal -Star 25
felt like I was in a suction tube": Shantz
pieces of the mine in scared of too much."
Then, it began. Hail the size of
inda Shantz, who lives softballs, she said, began hitting the
n Street . -a re a o f house. She took shelter in a door-
way, well away from a neighbouring
i she was on the com- tree she was concerned would fall.
me the storm hit. "It felt like I was in a suction tube,"
u dden the dog went she said.
d. "She's normally not Static electricity was in the air and
her golden lab, Molly, "looked like a
poodle."
"It felt like 1 was in a vacuum but
being electrocuted, she said.
Fifty meters away, the top was
torn from a neighbouring building.
She and her neighbours chained a
tree that was splitting to prevent
damage to their homes, and after
that, she said crisis anode hit.
"I got into my car and drove
uptown," she said. "I got up to the
Royal Bank and there was a car with
exploded windows"
The strong smell of gas was in the
air and trees were gone, buildings
downed or missing.
"Then it hit me," she said.
Shantz was still without electric-
ity Monday, and was at the Colum-
bus Centre looking for information.
Debris was dumped downtown
from many places. Witnesses say
rubber from the salt mine was found
on Courthouse Square and metal
from the evaporator plant was also
found along East Street.
arrives on the scene in Courthouse Park.
David Street shows trees fallen, lines down and the United
low
Trees, bricks, glass and metal f111 the Square near East Street.
yoked like the middle of
ter: Sword
owns the Carman's
it the corner of King -
d Courthouse Square.
glass facade was com-
wn in during the
was closed. I only saw
i was waiting to get
7 he said. "The devas-
ldn't believe it."
ulled down Suncoast
ed like the middle of
winter. Police were already direct-
ing traffic away from downtown.
He said he is just happy there
were so few injuries resulting from
the tornado.
As for business, he said he is hop-
ing to be up and running again as
soon as possible, but it depends on
how quick the cleanup is.
"Some of us received relatively
little damage," he said. "Some are
completely gone."
Talking to other business owners,
he said some have already told him
they may be out of commission
until well after the Christmas
season.
The entire window facade of Ca mans
is gone.