[All] Storm at St. Jacobs: Letter to Regional Reps.

[Ginny Quinn]

Thanks Lulu...What a heartbreaker for all these hard working vendors and
what a blessing nobody was seriously hurt physically  but I'm sure some were
badly hurt financially. The rapid changes in the weather is frightening.
Ginny

 

From: all-bounces at gren.ca [mailto:all-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of
Louisette Lanteigne
Sent: September-04-11 12:28 AM
To: all at gren.ca
Subject: [All] Storm at St. Jacobs: Letter to Regional Reps.

 


Hi folks

I was at the St. Jacob's Market today after the storm hit today. I was there
just before 3pm. It was a scary time for customers who told me their cars
and vans shook with the winds. I was at home with the kids at the time of
the storm where I witnessed the weather transition from a dark dead calm to
heavy downpour and strong winds. The storm went as quick as it started. We
went to the market when the rain was a drizzle afterwards and it's only
about a 5-10 minute drive from my home.

The folks at the market told me traffic stopped along the roadways and folks
were scared about a tornado. They tried to seek shelter in the main building
but it was packed with people. No room. Outside they could not breath in the
strong winds.

The wind bursts destroyed tents bending metal legs etc. Some vendors
expressed concern for the fact that young families were still walking about
in the aftermath even as the tents and displays were still falling apart.
They were worried someone would get hurt. Broken jars of honey, spilled
vegetables, scared sellers and yet folks just kept on shopping. It was the
most bizarre thing I've seen in a long time. 

It was a horrible loss for sellers. They had to liquidate all the wet
produce and products and their tents were destroyed. 

Found out later on that 5 people were hurt at the market from flying debris
and a roof was blown off of the auction barn. It might have been a micro
burst or tornado.

All I could do when I got there was take video of it all. Here's what I
posted on You Tube that is now showing up on CTV national news. 

These are the Video's of St. Jacob's Market after the storm

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv3JjVSJdtM>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv3JjVSJdtM

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FBZcOQugZg>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FBZcOQugZg

This one shows flooding
 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0WUYlVaoR4>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0WUYlVaoR4

This one features storm witness Jan Atkinson
 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfJLr7286d8>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfJLr7286d8

Vendors take a loss today
 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE4I_YmliLA>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE4I_YmliLA


I advised Regional Council to work with the market vendors to look into
securing better shelters for vendors and that some sort of emergency
response be in place to prevent public risk at times like this. At least
close the market down until things are proven safe before we allow folks to
walk through these flooded areas with tents falling down all over. 

These good people had no warning at all and nature is like that at times but
when the rains came there was not enough shelter. I told the Region they
might want to look at ways we can improve upon the basics like that. More
shelter can't be a bad thing for a successful tourist draw like this.
Something towards the south would be helpful so folks don't all head to the
same buildings all at once. Folks were jammed into the doors today of the
main building on the west side. Another facility or at least more doorways
to existing ones might help. 

Also, the tents that didn't come down were the ones hand fabricated by the
Mennonites using welded steel rods or welded pipes. Might want to get these
good folks to help engineer a more rugged set up. Their tents seemed to pass
the test rather well. Kudos for that. 

I basically relayed this to Regional Council and already the Mayor of
Woolwich got back to me with a letter of thanks saying he's relayed the
concern to the Mercedes Corp. who runs the market. Although 5 got hurt with
minor injuries, hopefully today will help protect others in the future from
similar storms. 

Lulu :0)

 

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