‘Thank God no one was killed’: Estimated 60 homes left uninhabitable after Barrie tornado

Missing roofs, vehicles smashed, some homes completely flattened.

That’s the surreal scene in a Barrie neighbourhood, one day after an EF-2 tornado tore through leaving many with more questions than answers right now.

Touring the five-kilometre trail of destruction on Friday afternoon, Premier Doug Ford called the aftermath “heartwrenching.”

“It’s devastating,” he said. “Thank God no one was killed. It’s an absolute miracle. I just want to tell the people here that we’re going to have their backs. They have our support. Anything they need, we’ll be here.”

An estimated 150 homes are damaged and 60 of those residences are unlivable.

Shocked residents returned to the destruction to pick up personal items, medication and even pets.

“When you look around and you start talking about it. You know, it’s an emotional thing,” one woman said at the site on Friday.

“Again, as I said, it’s all replaceable. And that’s all that matters – is that everyone made it out okay.”

 

Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman says 10 people were taken to hospital – all but two have been released adding that none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

“They have a triage tent that they actually want to bring here so that they can set up so everybody can come to one spot, get connected to their insurance brokers,” he said. “A lot of the adjustors are on scene already.”

Lehman says the quick response of residents heading to their basements for safety probably saved lives.

Further update from Prince William Way and Majesty in the tornado zone. pic.twitter.com/eRuW8dpRrm

— Jeff Lehman (@jedi_lehman) July 16, 2021

Environment Canada has since given the tornado a preliminary rating of EF-2, meaning it had maximum wind speeds of 210 kilometres per hour.

The weather office says the damage path was about five kilometres long and up to 100 metres wide.

“These people, within minutes, literally, their lives changed,” added Ford. “But we’re going to get them back on their feet.”

The Salvation Army has informed the City that they are not in need of volunteers at this time. Monetary donations to help those affected by the tornado are being accepted at https://t.co/96aBsvXTr9 (specify 'Barrie tornado'). #BarrieTornado

— The City of Barrie (@cityofbarrie) July 16, 2021

The city of Barrie, meanwhile, is asking anyone who wants to help out to make donations to the local Salvation Army and not to bring contributions to the tornado recovery site.

The city says people should avoid the area of Mapleview and Prince William Way as emergency workers continue to respond to the damage.

The Salvation Army says it will distribute the donations that have been received so far.

Cash can be dropped off at the Salvation Army location at 16 Bayfield Street – just mark it as ‘tornado relief.’

You can also donate at Salvation Army dot c-a.