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Lakeshore Advance, 2012-08-08, Page 5114 Lakeshore Advance • Thursday, August 24, 2011 Deadly, tornado rips through Goderich CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 1 the injured or where they were taken for treatment. Insp. B111 Klym, the acting inspector for the Huron detachment, said the OPP deployed officers to secure the core. "'Ihe area has completely been locked down to the public and been deemed a no-go zone," he said. "Public safety is our number 1 prior- ity at this time as buildings are insecure," The twister caused heavy damage to several buildings near the historic square at the heart of Goderich. 'Ihe roofs of several buildings ringing the square were torn off, exposing rooms and walls. The green space around the courthouse at the centre of the square was covered with tree limbs and trees that had been ripped out of the ground. "It's like an atomic bomb bit it," Greg Rau said. The powerful winds shattered windows in the courthouse so "you can see right through it," he said, Damage was widespread throughout Goderich, a town of 8,000 on the shores of Lake Huron about 100 kilometres north of London. The twister left buildings without roofs, trees and utility poles toppled on houses and debris scattered on the ground and in trees. The power was out throughout the town, and the natural gas system was shut down because of ruptures that left Kineto I heahe Forest "CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER" Rating: PG August 26, 27, 20 i 30th Starring: Chris Evans, H • Wsavl Natalia Dormsq New to Grand Bend and area? Had a New Baby? Getting Married? First Time Grandparents? Starting a Business? Be sure to call... r,COME$ AGON'^' SDKs 1020 Faye Van Oss 519-238-8048 1466-873-994 Welcome Wagon has free gifts and information on behalf of Grand Bend & area businesses. www.weloomewagon.ca nine and five were inside their Goderich home when the power went out. Roosemalen looked out the front window. "I saw all the stuff swirling in the sky. 'Ihe tornado was right across the road:" 'Ihe family ran to the basement. 'Ihe wind was so loud as they ran downstairs that their ears were popping, Kennedy said. Remi Dube, who lives on Elgin St., was trying to clos e door on his porch when the tornado hit. "I made it in to the living room and everything went black." John Now London Free Prean A Goderich lumberyard was destroyed by tornado In Goderich that also damaged houses near by. an odour of gas in the air. Sarah Wong, an Environment Canada meteorologist, said the tornado was spawned by a fast-moving storm that moved in from Lake Limon. Capt. Jeff Wormington of the Goderich fire department said the town's square suffered considerable damage. "The train emphasis is on crowd control. The fire department is concerned because there's been a number of gas line breaks." Buildings across town were damaged, including the evaporator at the Sifto salt plant, the front of a TD Canada Trust branch on Hwy. 21 and nearby Victoria Street United Church. Mayor Joe Fontana said London is ready to send forestry, public works and emergency staff to Goderich. "We are ready to respond at a moment's notice," he said. "At times likevthese, all neighbouring communi- ties will come together to assist in any way we can." The Benmiller Inn and Falls Reserve Conservation Area east of Goderich also were damaged. Roofs were blown off two buildings at the inn and the inn was evacuated. Joe Roosemalen, his partner Raquel Kennedy and their two children aged KION BRANCH 498, GRAND BEND BINGO Tuesday - 7pm MEAT DRAWS Friday - 5pm-7pm ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, August 27th 3-6pm "D.J. BARRY SHEPPARD" ELIMINATION DRAW Held Sept. 3rd, 2011 Tickets Now Available "You're only a stranger here once." EVERYONE WELCOME HALL RENTALS CaII: Sharon 41R -238-S8$6 'Ihe front porch was ripped off his house and a tree landed on his truck. His garage was severely damaged. "Nobody got hurt, that's the main thing. My neighbours are all right." Jill Gould of Uxbridge was at a motel when the tornado hit. "I've never seen anything like it. The wind went one way and it came hack the other way." Tyler Nicholson was napping on the couch at his home in Goderich when the tornado hit. "I heard the wind and knew it was had; he said. Ile raced to get his partner and child to the basement. 1lis partner, Lydzi Mason, said: "We were racing for the basement." --with files from Free Press reporter Mashoka Maimona and Gerard Creces, Goderich Signal -Star � l M O T F t A4RESTJRANr Invites you to an... ART SNOW Open Wednesday - Sunday at 5 p.m. Chef - Randy Rapley Reservations Recommenimkd - Walk-ins Welcome 519-238-2081 236 Ontario Street S, Grand Bend ENGAGEMENT GRAY - KAHNERT Patti Gray and Scott Howell along with Tom and Johanna Kahnert are pleased to announce the engagement of their children Nicola Catherine and Jonathan Duncan plant, the front of a TD Canada Trust branch on Hwy. 21 and nearby Victoria Street United Church. Mayor Joe Fontana said London is ready to send forestry, public works and emergency staff to Goderich. "We are ready to respond at a moment's notice," he said. "At times likevthese, all neighbouring communi- ties will come together to assist in any way we can." The Benmiller Inn and Falls Reserve Conservation Area east of Goderich also were damaged. Roofs were blown off two buildings at the inn and the inn was evacuated. Joe Roosemalen, his partner Raquel Kennedy and their two children aged KION BRANCH 498, GRAND BEND BINGO Tuesday - 7pm MEAT DRAWS Friday - 5pm-7pm ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, August 27th 3-6pm "D.J. BARRY SHEPPARD" ELIMINATION DRAW Held Sept. 3rd, 2011 Tickets Now Available "You're only a stranger here once." EVERYONE WELCOME HALL RENTALS CaII: Sharon 41R -238-S8$6 'Ihe front porch was ripped off his house and a tree landed on his truck. His garage was severely damaged. "Nobody got hurt, that's the main thing. My neighbours are all right." Jill Gould of Uxbridge was at a motel when the tornado hit. "I've never seen anything like it. The wind went one way and it came hack the other way." Tyler Nicholson was napping on the couch at his home in Goderich when the tornado hit. "I heard the wind and knew it was had; he said. Ile raced to get his partner and child to the basement. 1lis partner, Lydzi Mason, said: "We were racing for the basement." --with files from Free Press reporter Mashoka Maimona and Gerard Creces, Goderich Signal -Star � l M O T F t A4RESTJRANr Invites you to an... ART SNOW Open Wednesday - Sunday at 5 p.m. Chef - Randy Rapley Reservations Recommenimkd - Walk-ins Welcome 519-238-2081 236 Ontario Street S, Grand Bend