More than 100 homes were damaged when a tornado struck the suburb of Half Moon Bay in Canada's capital city, Ottawa, on July 13. The tornado caused significant destruction, with roofs being ripped off, windows broken, and trees falling onto properties. Fortunately, there was only one reported minor injury, involving a person who suffered a foot cut.
Kim Ayotte, the general manager of emergency and protective services for the city of Ottawa, stated that 125 homes in the Half Moon Bay neighborhood were affected by the tornado. The extent of the damage varied, ranging from minor to substantial. Monica Vaswani, a warning preparedness meteorologist at Environment Canada, confirmed that several funnel clouds were reported in the Ottawa area, but only one tornado had been confirmed by mid-afternoon.
Half Moon Bay is located approximately 14 miles south of Parliament Hill in Ottawa's rapidly expanding southern region. The community has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, making the impact of the tornado particularly concerning for its residents.
Laurie Gillespie recounted her mother's experience during the tornado. Her 82-year-old mother and sister were at home when they noticed the storm approaching. Gillespie's sister went outside to secure a chair, fearing it would be blown away. However, the tornado's force was overwhelming, causing windows in the living room, bathroom, and bedroom to blow in, scattering glass everywhere. The roof sustained significant damage, with bathroom curtains being sucked out and ending up on the roof.
The aftermath of the tornado revealed a widespread impact in a two- to three-block radius around Gillespie's mother's home. Other houses in the area suffered roof damage, with insulation foam blocks exploding in attics. In response to the situation, Ottawa police urged people to avoid the Barrhaven area and steer clear of downed power lines.
Authorities and emergency services are working diligently to assess the damage, assist affected residents, and restore normalcy to the impacted neighborhood.
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