It will be a day of damage assessment and clean-up after a severe storm whipped through parts of Chatham-Kent.
Environment Canada issued a tornado warning just after 10:30 Thursday night with damaging winds and intense rain bearing down on the region. A spokesperson for the weather agency says it’s too early to confirm if a tornado touched down, saying a team of investigators will likely be looking into the amount of damage later in the day.
There are more than 12,000 residents without power in Chatham Friday morning, primarily in the north-eastern section. Over 500 were without power in the Tilbury area at the height of the outage, 347 in Bothwell, and another 146 in Erieau.
A spokesperson for Entegrus posted on social media early Friday morning that the utility has suffered extensive damage to its assets, along with downed trees power lines in Chatham.
Early Friday morning, Hydro One was reporting another 6600 customers without power from Tilbury to Bothwell.
Crews are working to clear trees and begin making repairs. At this point there is no time estimate to get the lights back on.
Officials with Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue are reminding residents to assume any downed hydro wires are live and dangerous. If you come across one, stay back and call 9-1-1.
Chatham-Kent Police are asking people not to call 9-1-1 if they are experiencing flooding in their basements.
If you encounter water in your basement, please follow these steps:
-Prioritize personal safety and evacuate if there are electrical or structural risks.
-Contact your insurance company to report the flooding and seek guidance.
-Seek assistance from professional water removal or restoration services if needed.
-For concerns about the source of flooding, contact relevant authorities or service providers.
Authorities say police and 911 should be reserved for true emergencies involving immediate public safety or crimes in progress.
