Thursday, July 20th seemed like any other day when I headed to the Alvinston Legion to begin my shift. I knew a storm was headed our way but didn’t think much about it until I received a tornado warning on my cell phone. Opening up at 4 pm I only had two customers come in when the warning appeared, Marjorie Cumming and Carol White. As we were talking the light outside darkened and the wind picked up and once the hydro clicked on and off before if finally went out for good. Looking outside the wind was going in many directions with a battering of rain. Branches were coming off trees and blowing down River Street making the tornado warning much more imminent. The wind was so strong that it was able to open the back door and slam it a few times before I locked it. In the back of my mind knowing there is no basement in the building the thought crossed my mind that myself Marjorie and Carol were in this together and I certainly didn’t want that to mean a visit to the Wizard of Oz!
As fast as the storm hit our little community it seemed to disperse just as fast. The hydro didn’t come back on so after speaking with those in charge we realized shutting down was the best option. It was a relief for me as I wanted to get home and see what kind of damage was done.
Southwestern Ontario suffered heavy storms that night leaving thousands of homes without power in Lambton County. It was a downburst that hit Alvinston with winds at 115 km per hour starting at about 4:45 pm. Damage to trees, crops, homes, car’s, hydro poles/wires and an antenna was the outcome. The route of the storm began in Point Edward and Sarnia around 4 pm with winds at 125 km per hour. A downburst in Wilkesport clocked wind speeds at 130 km per hour at 4:05 pm. Petrolia had a Tornado touch down at 4:45 pm with wind speeds of 115 km per hour leaving a trail 2.9 km long of damage. Next came Alvinston and then Wardsville both suffering downbursts around the same time, 4:45. At 4;50 South Buxton was hit with a Tornado with winds reaching 175 km per hour leaving a path of destruction of 10.5 km.
Coming home I first saw that my wildflower garden was flattened including most of my sunflowers that were just opening. Looking around I then saw my neighbours steel car shelter was now in her back yard and it took out one of the posts on my fence getting there. Along the tree line in my back which is on the edge of the slope to the Sydenham river many branches had come down, mostly into the ravine. I lost a lilac bush and days later looking up I know I now have to make some decisions on taking some of my beautiful trees down. My favourite maple has almost half of it missing and the half thats left hangs over my church and deck and could cause some serious damage down the line.
Truth is in the end I am one of the lucky ones.
Walking around town the next day and seeing the damage the storm left in it path made the community look like a war zone. Many giant trees were uprooted leaving gapping holes where they once stood. Tops of trees broken off, landing in pools, ponds or on top of cars or homes. Some lost all their trees in their yards. Power lines were dangling and streets were completely blocked by the damage. A hydro pole came down on Church Street (my street) blocking access on the north end.
No one was hurt and that was the miracle. Better still as soon as the storm ended it seemed like the chain saws started filling the air with their sounds as people came out banding together for clean up. Neighbours helping neighbours. In speaking to those I saw that first night there was the undeniable sigh of relief that we were all ok amidst all the damage.
Bluewater Power had prepped for the storm and warned customers via social media to be ready. Even still I don’t think anyone expected what came. At the peak of the storm they had 17,000 customers without power . Crews worked throughout the night finally restoring power in Alvinston earlier than even they expected, 28 hours later.
Bluewater Power President and CEO Janice McMichael-Dennis referred to the damage in Alvinston as “the worst to the local power infrastructure she’s ever seen.“ She credits her crews dedication and teamwork for getting the lights back on so soon. She had been expecting it to take until Saturday before seeing all power restored.
For me and my guess many others the first few days after the storm seemed unreal. The enormity of what had to get done seemed impossible and yet so much help came to aid in the cleanup from within and outside of the community that progressed moved fast. Cost of the cleanup has yet to be evaluated. Our Mayor Dave Ferguson has put out feelers for possible help not only for the costs the Municipality is looking at but also residents who have to pay for trees to come down that insurance won’t pay for.
Local resident Dan Cumming commented on a post he made through Facebook on the night of the storm “If that wasn’t a tornado in Alvinston, I don’t ever want to see one!” A feeling we all can agree upon.
ALVINSTON - Stories from the Church 