Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk says the cleanup following Thursday’s violent storm is going to take some time.
The high winds and torrential rain caused significant damage across much of the city and left about 15,000 customers without power.
They mayor says that number was down to about 1,050 by mid-afternoon Friday and Elexicon was hoping to have most, if not all customers back on by the end of the day.
He says he’s never seen anything like the storm in his 21 years in the city.
“I spent time talking to residents today and talking to staff and looking at the destruction. I was amazed that we got through this without loss of life and I think that’s terrific. But I’ve been amazed at how people have come together to help each other on their street, in their neighbourhoods, just lending a hand.”
Mayor Mitch Panciuk says the city’s Emergency Management Plan kicked in immediately and there was no need to declare a state of emergency.
“And I can tell you that we were considering all possibilities including an emergency evacuation centre, declaring an emergency. And we just, sort of, worked with police and fire, and Elexicon and city crews and they made the right decisions as we went along and uh, and I think we’ve come through it quite well.”
Panciuk says crews will be collecting trees and branches from residents’ curbs in the coming days and weeks and the Leaf and Yard Waste Depot is extending its hours to include tomorrow and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
