Camden East bounces back quickly from Sunday’s violent storm

Adam Prudhomme
Editor

Less than 24 hours after a destructive storm had blown through the hamlet, Camden East was back up and running Monday morning.

Sudden heavy rains and high winds snapped trees, toppled power lines and even lifted a roof off the former library building, but fortunately there were no reports of injuries.

Meteorologists still aren’t sure what the intense weather event was, but those who experienced it say it was all over in just over 30 seconds.

“It all came on very fast,” said Lindsay Noyes, co-owner of McCormick’s County Store, which suffered heavy damage when part of the roof from the building across the street slammed into it. “I can go back on our video camera and see it actually lasted like 34 seconds. It was just rain at first, I wouldn’t even say high winds until it really started then it just sounded like a train going through the village.”

In one sense the storm couldn’t have happened at a better time. Despite the fact it was a long-weekend and typically a time when Camden East might see an increase in activity, the storm rolled through just as the streets were empty.

“The chances of no customers or staff being outside is what floored me,” said Noyes. “The minute before customers had left who were parked right in the line of destruction, I had a staff member pumping propane five minutes before. Yes there was damage but I’m so thankful nobody was hurt.”

Quick response by the Stone Mills Fire department, Stone Mills Township and Hydro One meant McCormick’s, which serves as a hub for the small community, was able to open its doors the next morning. Residents and emergency workers alike pitched it to clear fallen trees across roads and clear away scattered debris.

“We’re open and that is thanks to (Stone Mills fire chief) Jeff (Thompson) and crew,” said Noyes. “The fire department and the township were amazing. It definitely pays to live in a small community, we had neighbours and so many people offered to help or showed up to help. The fire department was here within minutes of me calling and the township showed up, it’s just amazing how everybody pulled together, they just wanted to clean up enough so that we could reopen as soon as possible. You wouldn’t get that in downtown Toronto. It’s pretty amazing.”

She even noted a visit from Greater Napanee Mayor Marg Isbester and several others from nearby who have dropped by to check in.

“Just to know that people are thinking of you is pretty amazing,” said Noyes.

That there were no reported injuries is even more astounding considering there was no warning whatsoever prior to the storm. It wasn’t until after the storm had rolled through Camden East that a tornado warning was issued for the surrounding communities.

“It was coming out in a path from southwest, and hit the corner on Johnson and crossed Shorey Street right through the main intersection where the library and McCormick’s is and right out through Riverview,” said Thompson. “There was quite a few trees on the river down too I noticed (Sunday). Once it got out to the subdivision by Heritage the damage was less. There was one resident there, he couldn’t find his trampoline. It was 2 km away. One of the neighbours seen it above the houses going across so somebody messaged him and said I found your trampoline in my soybean field. Other than that he didn’t have any damage, just the trampoline picked up and gone.”

Thompson said another resident reported his shed was completely gone, though the lawnmower inside was still there. Another house saw its garage completely pushed off its footings. Fortunately there was no one inside the actual house at the time.

“I haven’t heard any reports if it was a tornado confirmed, but it was actually picked stuff up,” said Thompson.

Part of the cleanup involved putting a tarp to cover the roof of the former library, which now serves as a daycare and post office. Staff worked to clear out the building to prevent anything inside from suffering any further water damage.

Thompson estimates the township will be working for over a week to clear all the fallen trees throughout Camden East.

While the clean up continues, Environment Canada will now work to determine whether it was actually a tornado that touched down and caused the damage. For those who were right in the middle of the storm, whatever it gets categorized as will make little difference.

“If that wasn’t a tornado, I don’t want to see an actual tornado,” Noyes added.