Winds wallop Frontenac County

May 05, 2011

Photo: Verona family (Jackson, Debra and Thomas) survey wind storm damage to their home

The damage was apparent all over Frontenac County as winds in excess of 100 km an hour were reported throughout the area on April 28.

Numerous power outages caused by the high winds and fallen trees were reported and the damage done was apparent on Friday as crews were busy all over the county cleaning up the mess. While some home owners reported outbuildings and sheds being lifted off the ground, others closer to Kingston reported solar panels being torn off roof tops and damaging vehicles. Lakefront home owners were also out in full force on Friday, scouring lake shores for lost docks and other items swept away by the high winds. Some homes in our coverage area were still without power on Monday - five days later.

Just north of Verona, Debra Fornazari and Thomas Baird were surveying the damage done to their home when a 70-foot pine tree split in half. The severed section took out part of their roof, their hydro lines and took down a second pine tree in their front yard. The damage occurred sometime on Thursday mid-day and thankfully no one, including the couple’s young son Jackson, was home at the time. I spoke to the couple at their home located on Road 38 while they were waiting for crews to arrive to survey, assess and repair the damage done to the home, which in a few spots was left open to the elements. It was Thomas who first saw the destruction after returning home from work and.

“I had stopped in Verona to get gas and couldn't because the power was out. People there were saying that a lot of big trees had blown down. I was joking, saying that I had a few trees on my property and then I drove up to my place and saw this.” He then called Debra who ironically had just been visiting her insurance agent that morning.

“I couldn't believe it! After hearing from Thomas, I had to return to their office to tell them that I would be filing a claim,” she said.

Debra said her pets, who were inside the home at the time of the incident, were shaken up from the noise. “The entire next night the cat slept right on my chest. Obviously they were pretty shaken up by what had happened.” The couple's young son Jackson was sure that a tornado had hit their home. However, overall, the family seemed in good spirits.

“Really, what are you going to do? In the big picture we know that the damage could have been a lot worse and we are just very thankful that no one was hurt,” said Debra.

Further south in Sydenham, crews in the village were removing a tree that had taken down a phone line in front of another home. Power lines were also down on Rutledge Road west of the village. Also hampered by the power outages were countless Royal wedding watchers, who awoke to find they had no power. Some reported that after starting their generators, it was their TVs that got plugged in first. No doubt there were more than a few unplanned early morning pajama parties on Friday throughout the county. But for others more seriously affected by the high winds, there were more pressing concerns that needed tending to.