EF-2 tornado touchdown confirmed in Uxbridge, recovery efforts ongoing

Crews are working to restore power to more than 150,000 Ontario customers who are still without hydro after a deadly storm swept through the province on Saturday.

At least ten people died and three communities declared states of emergency after the storm that down trees, brought down power lines and damaged property.

Environment Canada confirmed to CityNews that an EF-2 tornado did touch down in Uxbridge on Saturday, leaving widespread damage.

The Northern Tornadoes Project has said preliminary results showed a long narrow path of enhanced damage was 4.26 km in length and 260 metres wide with a speed of 195 km/h.

It says it’s still investigating storm damage from Saturday in Ottawa and London.

There is additional damage roughly in line with this tornado farther to the east of Uxbridge, and the length of the tornado may be extended after further analysis. The worst damage was to the roofs of two apartment buildings (one shown below). #ONStorm 2/2 pic.twitter.com/eVLuOhkQh2

— Northern Tornadoes Project ???????? (@westernuNTP) May 24, 2022

Elexicon Energy, which covers Durham region, elaborated on the ongoing efforts to restore power as President and CEO Indrani Butany-DeSouza, says hydro crews have been working 24/7 since Saturday.

“This storm that we saw, for us, was worse than the [1998] ice storm,” DeSouza said. “It hit so quickly, and the extensive damage because of downed trees and high winds was enormous.”

Butany-DeSouza says that the eastern region of Uxbridge — one of the hardest-hit regions —  is getting power back today. The Mayor of Uxbridge declared a state of emergency following the storm on Saturday due to the damage and widespread cleanup.

Butany-DeSouza says it could take several days to restore power in certain areas and Durham region neighbourhoods.

“Saturday’s severe storms and heavy winds resulted in substantial damage and power outages across Whitby, Pickering, Ajax, Uxbridge and Port Perry, currently affecting more than 6,600 customers,” Elexicon Energy’s website reads.

“Our crews are working hard to bring back power and ensure public safety working with emergency services and our municipalities.”

Three schools in Durham region remain closed on Wednesday.

The following schools will remain closed due to power outages:

•Southwood Park PS (Ajax)
•Valley View PS (Pickering)
•Uxbridge PS (Uxbridge)

Full update: https://t.co/Xg53spOMIX

— Durham District School Board (DDSB) (@DDSBSchools) May 25, 2022

More than 98,000 Hydro One customers are still without power. As of early Wednesday morning, Hydro Ottawa said it is working on restoring power to approximately 68,000 customers

Toronto Hydro says there are dozens of scattered outages across the city as crews hope to return power to all by Wednesday afternoon. Eight schools in Durham and one in North York had to close down Tuesday due to a lack of power.

The death toll in Ontario climbed to at least 10 on Monday, with Peterborough police confirming that a 61-year-old Lakefield man died during the storm after being struck by a falling tree. One person died in Quebec during Saturday’s storm, and nine people died in Ontario as wind gusts up to 151 kilometres uprooted trees and downed power lines.

The storm led to more than 1,400 broken poles, 300 broken cross arms, and nearly 200 damaged transformers in Ontario.

Insurance claims expected to rise after deadly storm hits Ontario and Quebec

Insurance claims are expected to rise following a deadly storm that swept across Ontario and Quebec on Saturday.

Anne Marie Thomas, director of consumer and industry relations with the Insurance Bureau of Canada, says it is too early to project insurance claim tallies, but that home, auto and business insurance will play a key role in the recovery.

She says roofs, fences, cars and food waste will likely make up the bulk of home insurance claims, with additional living expenses such as hotels also covered under some plans should families have to temporarily decamp from damaged properties.

The remains of the roof of a hardware store that lifted off and crashed into neighbouring houses during a major storm is seen spread across residences in the community of Hammond in Clarence-Rockland, Ont., Monday, May 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Justin Tang.

Thomas says extreme weather continues to highlight the cost of climate change to insurers and taxpayers.

The insurance bureau says severe weather caused $2.1 billion in insured damage last year, stemming in part from November flooding in British Columbia and summer hailstorms in Calgary.

“What a tragedy, what happened over the weekend, with this storm, so widespread,” Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, who is running for re-election as Ontario’s premier, said Tuesday morning at a campaign stop.

“I just want to give my prayers and thoughts to the families that lost loved ones.

With files from The Canadian Press