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City response continues following Thursday's tornado

The city issued a reminder to not enter homes that have Unsafe Orders posted and says additional resources are available for those who were affected by the tornado
BarrieToday Staff
Tornado-Saturday-Day3-4
Many construction crews began their work on Saturday morning after a tornado ripped through the south end of Barrie on Thursday afternoon. Kevin Lamb for BarrieToday

NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF BARRIE
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Tornado response efforts continue today in the Mapleview and Prince William Way area to assess damages, clean up the streets, and provide help and resources to affected residents. There are currently 71 homes that have been deemed unsafe to enter and there may be additional orders posted today.

The area where the tornado hit remains a restricted area and there is no access without proper identification. Unless you live in the affected area, please stay away from closed streets and the surrounding area. Additional people driving or trying to park in the area who do not need to be there impedes the response and recovery work.

Safety reminder: Do not enter homes that have an Unsafe Order posted
There are reports of people attempting to enter damaged homes that have Unsafe Orders posted. It is not safe and you could become injured or trapped. The homes that have Unsafe Orders posted may have extensive structural damage—stay out of damaged buildings until they can be assessed. A report from a Professional Engineer is required when your home has sustained structural damage or if you have received an Unsafe Order from the Building Department.

Help and resources for affected residents
Affected residents have been provided with detailed information to assist them with next steps to take for property assessments, supports, and help available, and how to handle temporary and final repairs. If you need any assistance, call the tornado assistance line at 705-728-8442 or visit City staff at the information centre in the trailer located near Saint Gabriel’s School (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily). Insurance companies have also now set up mobile trailers in the area and are going door to door to assist residents.

New blue and grey recycling boxes will be available for affected residents to pick up at Saint Gabriel’s School by early evening today. 

No parking overnight on July 18 and 19
There will be a no parking order in effect for the affected areas overnight on Sunday, July 18 and Monday, July 19 so that the streets can be cleaned. A map of the no-parking area is available here. Tow trucks will be brought in to help remove vehicles from the street if they can’t be moved due to damages.

Utility restorations
Alectra now reports that there are about 70 homes without power and the estimated time of restoration is unknown. Please be wary of scams. Alectra crews were notified of scammers posing as Alectra employees going door-to-door asking residents for money to inspect their home. This is not Alectra, please be cautious and notify local law enforcement (Barrie Police Service non-emergency line: 705-725-7025) if you encounter these fraudsters.

Enbridge Gas crews continue to go door-to-door to restore gas service to impacted customers as quickly as possible, for the homes where it is safe to do so. Do not attempt to relight your own appliances. Gas service is expected to be restored to the majority of customers by end of day on July 17. An Enbridge representative is available at the plaza located at the corner of Mapleview and Prince William to discuss priority requests and concerns.

Donations
The City reminds people to not bring donations to the tornado recovery site. There are sufficient volunteers and donations at this time. The Salvation Army is currently accepting financial donations. If you are donating money, make sure it is to a reputable and registered charity.

The City will continue to release new information as soon as it becomes available. Ongoing public information about the situation and resources are posted on our website at barrie.ca/TornadoRecovery. Please also follow the City’s social media channels for updates.

Additional resources:

  • Tornado assistance line for affected residents: 705-728-8442
  • Service Barrie: 705-726-4242 (press zero after hours)
    • Email [email protected] if you wish to be added to a list to offer assistance/donations
  • Ontario SPCA support for anyone who needs temporary housing or food for their animal: 310-SPCA (7722)
  • Barrie Public Library Painswick branch: offering computers, free wi-fi and laptops that can be borrowed in-branch for anyone that needs internet and computer access
  • Red Cross number for residents directly affected: 289-206-8275
  • Ontario 211: Community and Social Services: call 2-1-1 or click here
  • Canadian Mental Health Association Simcoe County: cmhastarttalking.ca
  • Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or kidshelpphone.ca

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