Below is a verbatim statement issued by Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens early Thursday morning about a ‘probable’ tornado that ripped through Windsor and LaSalle Wednesday night:
Emergency services personnel, city of Windsor staff and agencies including Enwin, Union Gas and many others, are working hard to deal with the fallout from damage caused by a sudden tornado Wednesday night.
It was just after 7 when the first reports of a tornado touched down in the LaSalle area and then shortly after that in Windsor.
Our Emergency Operations Centre was opened to ensure our response for the Residents of Windsor was as swift and complete as possible. Thanks to the people I’ve mentioned already, I believe we have been successful.
As we reported last night there were four people injured and three received treatment for non-life threatening injuries in hospital, the fourth chose not to go. I’m very pleased to say that number has not grown overnight. And we are truly thankful that this storm did not take a life.
Last night we had asked residents to help emergency crews by staying away from damaged areas if possible and we continue to make that request.
The areas that sustained the greatest damage were near the EC Row Expressway, including Riberdy Road, Kautex Drive, Deziel Drive, and North Service Road.
Forestry and Public works crews continue to clean debris from roadways in and around those streets so there could be some closures in those areas, please drive with caution if you live there.
Fire crews walk through the tornado damage in the area of Riberdy Road near E.C. Row on August 24, 2016.
The EC Row Expressway was closed between Jefferson and Walker, I’m happy to report that EC Row has reopened.
The Windsor Transit Depot was without power last night but that has been restored so service should not be impacted. That’s great news.
Also great news was that homeowners who were displaced from their homes, I believe there were 15 last night, did not require assistance from the Red Cross. Accommodations were found with family and friends in the community.
Enwin Utilities has done a tremendous job and believe that as of 8am, only 8 properties will not have had their power restored. That’s incredible, as there were nearly 150 down last night.
All gas leak issues have been safely addressed, so thank you to Union Gas for their efforts.
Some cautions that have not changed:
If you see downed power lines—please stay away from them.
And if you are without power, you do not need to call Enwin, Enwin is aware and working on restoration.
We continue to ask residents to avoid driving around to have a look. We are still working to clean up debris and remove downed trees and power lines, so it remains imperative that crews are as unimpeded as possible.
Our 311 Call Centre is open at 7am today, so if you see something needing to be addressed, please give them a call but have some patience as they could be busy.
That’s all we have at this time. A news conference will be held later this morning and notice will be sent out on the time and location.
We appreciate our friends in the media helping keep people informed and away from further trouble.
A firefighter walks past a home that was damaged by a tornado in LaSalle on Aug. 24, 2016.
