Clean up operations are underway following a severe Saturday storm that knocked out power, uprooted trees and resulted in at least eight deaths across Ontario.
Locally, Brant OPP on Saturday reported that one person was killed and two others were injured after a tree fell on a camping trailer at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area near Paris, On. The other reported deaths occurred in Ottawa, Brampton and Durham Region and included people struck by trees.
The storm ripped through Brantford and Brant County early Saturday afternoon. It included heavy rain, thunder, hail and strong winds that reached more than 100 km/h.
“It was pretty incredible,” Carol Browning of Dalhousie Street near Park Avenue, said. “I could see the clouds coming in, then we got some rain and hail and it got really bad.
“We could see the tree swaying back and forth and I just knew it was going to go.”
The trunk of the tree in front of their home broke off with parts of the tree landing on a neighbour’s truck while the rest of it blocked one lane of the one-way street.
“We’ve been living here for six years and I’ve seen a lot of storms but nothing like this,” Browning said. “I never thought I’d see this tree come down.
“There was loud crack and then, a few minutes later, it was all sunny and hot again.”
The storm also ravaged trees in nearby Alexandra Park.
A block away on Darling Street near Drummond Street, a large tree knocked down hydro wires blocking the entire street. There were also reports of downed branches and uprooted trees in other areas of the city.
The winds were so strong they flipped over a plane on the Brantford Municipal Airport tarmac.
GrandBridge Energy said, on social media, that several crews had been dispatched to restore power to residents. Power had been restored to the majority of Brantford customers by 3 pm, the company said in a later Tweet.
.The severe weather also resulted in the closure of Grand River Conservation Authority trails and natural areas due to tree damage.
Updates on GRCA closures are available at www.grandriver.ca/conservationareastatus and www.grandriver.ca/servicedisruptions.
Acting Sgt. Ed Sanchuk, said West Region OPP officers were answering more than 200 calls an hour between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm on Saturday. Sanchuk thanked everyone involved in responding to calls and helped with road clearing work following the storm.
Clean up operations in Brantford and Brant County began Saturday and continued Sunday with work expected to continue over the next couple of days.
As of Sunday, city operations and forestry crews had completed more than 60 requests to remove debris from streets. They also assisted GrandBridge Energy with clean up efforts that included downed hydro wires.
“Crews are continuing efforts today (Sunday) and in the coming days to address the significant number of limbs and brush debris on residential sidewalks and boulevards,” Maria Visocchi, the city’s director, communications, community engagement and customer service, said. “Wooded areas like Mohawk Park, Waterworks Park and other areas along the trails will also require additional attention over the next few weeks.”
Work crews have prioritized situations that put the health and safety of residents at risk, she added.
Visocchi thanked residents for their patience as crews continue with the clean up.
Work crews in Brant County were also busy on Saturday and Sunday clearing roads including West River Road South between West Dumfries Rd and Glen Morris Road which closed remained for tree clean up and hydro line repair on Sunday.
Maple Ave. South at the Sixth Concession was closed Sunday due to clean up of fallen trees and hydro line repairs.
Clean up may take a couple of days, county officials said.
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