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Huron Expositor, 2004-05-26, Page 1010 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 26, 2004 News F2 tornado hits south end of Mitchell Family says they're lucky to be alive after their roof was ripped off by,25o km/h winds By Andy Bader Mitchell Advocate Editor A tornado hit Mitchell's south end Saturday night, and residents far and wide are still in shock days after the Victoria Day long weekend event. Damage could have been much worse, obviously, during a severe spring storm raged in a southeasterly direction which hit shortly after 7 p.m. Environment Canada officials confirmed the Mitchell twister was an F2 tornado with wind speeds of 240 km/h. "It's a real miracle that no one was injured. Just imagine this stuff swirling around at 240 km/h," said Geoff Coulson of Environment Canada, part of a team investigating the Mitchell tornado Sunday. For one Mitchell family, they're just thankful to be alive after the home they've owned for the past eight years no longer has a roof. Harry and Rosa Vander Kuylen and family, of 3793 Feltz St., have re -located to a friend's vacant Andy Bader photo Harry and Rosa Vander Kuylen's house at 3793 Feltz St., Mitchell, no longer has a roof after a tornado ripped through the town's southern end Saturday night. The sky to the west is eerily calm about an hour after the storm hit. Damage was severe to this house, with extensive damage elsewhere in the south end of Mitchell. Amazingly, no one was injured. farmhouse in Russeldale by the tornado. after the roof was torn off "My daughter was in her room and I told her we better get to the basement," Rosa said at the scene, less than an hour after the damage occurred. "The force of the wind pushed us down the stairs. We were lucky to get out of there." Vander Kuylen and her 17 -year-old daughter Lisa were upstairs in the house, while two other boys, including a son Jon, were already downstairs. Harry was not at home at the time, but was heading home after visiting his brother in Atwood. "I went to church this morning because I was so thankful we all survived. It was providence that we got down the basement steps," said Rosa Sunday. Harry, speaking after a meeting of affected residents Monday night at the municipal building called by the West Perth Emergency Control Group, 48 -hours after the event, offered thanks to friends,. neighbours and strangers who helped get their lives somewhat back in order. "The help has been unbelievable," he said. "You certainly see the hand of the Lord in saving lives," he continued. "Not too often we say that, but there's a higher power. And we're thankful for everything." Parts of the Vander Kuylen roof were littered across the region - reportedly as far away as Georgina Street - while tall, mature trees were snapped like twigs. Pink insulation and plywood, as well as shingles, were scattered throughout their backyard. 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