"Many homes destroyed": Ottawa resident describes Barrhaven tornado
It was a chaotic scene in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec Thursday evening, as a line of storms barreled through the region, sparking tornado warnings and at least two confirmed tornado touchdowns - one in Barrhaven, south of Ottawa, and one in Mirabel, Que.
Taking a wander through the Barrhaven tornado path and I'm finding a wide variety of damage. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/eTIidtGKGo
Taking a wander through the Barrhaven tornado path and I’m finding a wide variety of damage. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Taking a wander through the Barrhaven tornado path and I'm finding a wide variety of damage. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/eTIidtGKGo / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Taking a wander through the Barrhaven tornado path and I'm finding a wide variety of damage. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/eTIidtGKGo / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Taking a wander through the Barrhaven tornado path and I'm finding a wide variety of damage. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/eTIidtGKGo / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Taking a wander through the Barrhaven tornado path and I'm finding a wide variety of damage. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/eTIidtGKGo / Twitter"
"There are many, many homes with trees, roofs, [and] patios that were all destroyed," Harvey Thompson, a witness to the event, told The Weather Network's Mark Robinson in Barrhaven.
Firefighters are going door to door in the worst areas checking on residents & shutting down gas & hydro on multiple units. Approx 50 houses affected in the area of Umbra Pl in Barrhaven. #OttNews pic.twitter.com/iIBhq6ag2S
Firefighters are going door to door in the worst areas checking on residents & shutting down gas & hydro on multiple units. Approx 50 houses affected in the area of Umbra Pl in Barrhaven. Ottawa Fire Services on Twitter: "Firefighters are going door to door in the worst areas checking on residents & shutting down gas & hydro on multiple units. Approx 50 houses affected in the area of Umbra Pl in Barrhaven. #OttNews pic.twitter.com/iIBhq6ag2S / Twitter" Ottawa Fire Services on Twitter: "Firefighters are going door to door in the worst areas checking on residents & shutting down gas & hydro on multiple units. Approx 50 houses affected in the area of Umbra Pl in Barrhaven. #OttNews pic.twitter.com/iIBhq6ag2S / Twitter"
— Ottawa Fire Services (@OttFire) Ottawa Fire Services on Twitter: "Firefighters are going door to door in the worst areas checking on residents & shutting down gas & hydro on multiple units. Approx 50 houses affected in the area of Umbra Pl in Barrhaven. #OttNews pic.twitter.com/iIBhq6ag2S / Twitter"
Thompson said he received a notice on his phone that a tornado was occurring in his area, so he headed inside and to the basement.
Initial reports suggest 125 homes were damaged on the Ottawa side, but Thompson believes that estimate is conservative.
VIDEO: Tornado cleanup underway in Ottawa
With files from Mark Robinson.
