TORNADO in my hometown...

I grew up in Goderich Ontario, visit a few times a week for groceries, and my parents live there as well...it is still just as much a part of our lives as when we did live there, we now live 15 minutes away. Yesturday around 4pm a tornado ripped through Goderich, a town of about 8000 people. The Square which is where alot of businesses are, are gone, century old buildings are gone, houses gone, 1 life gone so far, 37 injured, and they are still looking through debris to find people...My mom was getting gas when it hit, she had just paid and got in her vehicle when it started, she was stuck right beside a gas pump, she couldn't get out of the vehicle because the wind was almost 300km/h, she was terrified of the flying debris smashing into a gas pump and killing her and everyone that was in the store. She is fine, she had to drive her vehicle to the legion, since she couldnt drive it any further due to the streets being completed covered with trees, she climbed her way over debris to get home where my father was playing his guitar, he had no idea a tornado had ripped the town apart, all he saw was heavy winds and hail the size of golfballs. My family was extremely lucky that there was no damage to their house, cars or themselves. so many other people were not so fortunate. here is some pictures.

victoria street church, completely destroyed

aerial view of victoria street church, my parents live down the road from here

square before, yes we knows its not a square

square after

before



after at the court house where my mother in law works




I used to work here when I was 16




can't even tell what street this is



volvo, my dads old work before they shut down

the salt mine, where 1 man died from the storm

I feel so helpless, they are not letting more people in town because they are still looking for people and the damage is to crazy...I felt so sick when I heard about the tornado yesturday, all I could think about were my parents..this is absolutely devastating for our community, I don't even know how they can begin to rebuild. Many people I know have now lost their homes and I just feel so sad for them. Please pray for our community.

Take care, Jessica