Update Aug. 13
The big event here in the last few days was the major hail storm that swept through Springbrook on Thursday afternoon creating damage like I've never seen. For about 10-15 minutes, hail the size of tennis balls in winds that gusted up around 125 km./hr. pounded the community, shredding vinyl siding, damaging roofs, blowing out windows in houses and vehicles, stripping trees of their leaves, pulverizing gardens, damaging aircraft, downing trees and branches, downing or fraying power lines, flooding houses and creating drifts of ice several inches thick.
Remarkably, no one was seriously hurt. Three cadets in training received minor injuries from broken glass or slipping on stairs when almost all the windows on the west side of their dormitories blew in.
It was mostly the older windows that got broken -- most new windows withstood the onslaught. And most of the damage was to the northwest side of residents' homes. The opposite sides generally had no damage whatsoever except for damage from branches or shingles blowing in the wind. Some vehicles received extensive damage, others had no damage at all. Some gardens, shrubs and trees that were somewhat sheltered had very little damage.
In the homes that the windows did blow in, glass, hail and water did considerable damage. Most people couldn't believe what they saw. Debris from trees, shingles and siding was scattered everywhere. There was a certain eerieness seeing the siding ripped off house after house after house. It was something that could not be described easily -- most people had to actually see it to appreciate the force of nature that was at work here.
Environment Canada called it a "straight line wind event" that could actually do more damage than a tornado and over a wider area. Through it all, however, no serious structural damage was done. It will just be a matter of repairing the roofs, siding, windows and landscaping for most people. For a few, significant interior damage will need to be repaired.
But because it affected so many residences, damage will be in the millions. Insurance adjusters are still tallying it up but it is expected to be one of the biggest insurance claims in recent memory in Central Alberta. And getting the repairs may not be easy either. Because of the construction boom and the shortage of skilled labour, it may be difficult finding contractors to do the repairs.
More news and photos of the storm can be found at www.SpringbrookWaskasoo.com/news.htm
There are some other recent developments in the area which I'll cover soon but, in the meantime, most of it is covered on the website.
Remarkably, no one was seriously hurt. Three cadets in training received minor injuries from broken glass or slipping on stairs when almost all the windows on the west side of their dormitories blew in.
It was mostly the older windows that got broken -- most new windows withstood the onslaught. And most of the damage was to the northwest side of residents' homes. The opposite sides generally had no damage whatsoever except for damage from branches or shingles blowing in the wind. Some vehicles received extensive damage, others had no damage at all. Some gardens, shrubs and trees that were somewhat sheltered had very little damage.
In the homes that the windows did blow in, glass, hail and water did considerable damage. Most people couldn't believe what they saw. Debris from trees, shingles and siding was scattered everywhere. There was a certain eerieness seeing the siding ripped off house after house after house. It was something that could not be described easily -- most people had to actually see it to appreciate the force of nature that was at work here.
Environment Canada called it a "straight line wind event" that could actually do more damage than a tornado and over a wider area. Through it all, however, no serious structural damage was done. It will just be a matter of repairing the roofs, siding, windows and landscaping for most people. For a few, significant interior damage will need to be repaired.
But because it affected so many residences, damage will be in the millions. Insurance adjusters are still tallying it up but it is expected to be one of the biggest insurance claims in recent memory in Central Alberta. And getting the repairs may not be easy either. Because of the construction boom and the shortage of skilled labour, it may be difficult finding contractors to do the repairs.
More news and photos of the storm can be found at www.SpringbrookWaskasoo.com/news.htm
There are some other recent developments in the area which I'll cover soon but, in the meantime, most of it is covered on the website.
posted by Paul @ 9:32 p.m.
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