Vaughan declares state of emergency — as many as 120 homes damaged

A severe weather system left a wide trail of destruction Thursday, reportedly killing one person and damaging trees and homes as witnesses reported tornadoes from the Owen Sound area to Vaughan and Pickering.

The mayor of the city of Vaughan, Linda Jackson, declared a state of emergency at 9:38 last night as a result of the damage. York Region Fire Chief Greg Senay said there were “hundreds of homes damaged” in the Vaughan area and as many as 120 homes were destroyed and their occupants evacuated.

“It’s amazing that no one was injured,” he said.

Toronto was under a tornado warning for a time, but was largely spared, although there were funnel clouds spotted near Pearson airport. Other possible funnel clouds were spotted at the Vaughan Mills Mall and in the Newmarket area.

As of 9:30 p.m. the areas northeast of Toronto were still under a tornado watch, said meteorologist Geoff Coulson of Environment Canada. ‘‘We still don’t have a firm understanding about how many events we’re dealing with here,” he said. “In the odd occasion Toronto would get a weak tornado, but this is relatively rare in my experience.’’

Many homes were damaged in the Rutherford Road and Highway 400 area of Vaughan. Many roofs were torn off. Shingles were reported strewn all over streets.

The Royal Canadian Riding Academy in Cedar Valley, just outside Newmarket, was extensively damaged, according to eyewitnesses, although there were no injuries to people or horses, police on the scene said.

In Toronto, trouble mainly came in the form of severe rain and driving winds. Lake Shore Boulevard between Ontario Place and the Exhibition grounds was flooded with a foot of water.

City of Toronto spokesman Rob Andrusevich said the fire department received about 200 calls about downed trees and alarms going off, but other than that “Toronto didn’t really receive it bad like York Region,” he said.

“We’ve been getting lots of calls about wires coming down, which sometimes smoke and spark,” said Toronto Fire Services Capt. Mike Strapko, who was on call and watching the storm from his garage.

“I just watched some small branches come down across the street.”

Tens of thousands were without power across the region last night.

The storm system, which left tens of thousands without power across the region last night, first wreaked havoc around 4 p.m. in the municipality of West Grey, which includes the town of Durham and Markdale as well as the municipality of Grey Highlands.

There were reports of roofs littering the streets, cars being lifted off the highway and thrown around and flipped over, and store windows shattering.

There were reports of a fatality of a young person in the Durham area, but as of press time it could not be confirmed by the OPP.

Deputy Chief Rob Thompson with the West Grey police confirmed six people were treated by paramedics. He said police were waiting for a full report.

“Our industrial park has been destroyed but everyone in that area got out safe,” Mr. Thompson said. “Our concern is the hydro lines are down. We are asking people to stay out of Durham because numerous large trees are down and the township roads are closed.”

Evelyne Richer of Markdale, south of Owen Sound said her power resumed just after 6 p.m. and the sun was out, but a 100 year-old pine tree split in two at its base and flattened part of her neighbour’s home.

“I have never, ever, seen anything like this,” she said.

Part of a tree on her property also cracked and landed on her roof, but the damage was minimal, she said.

“I was in the house when it happened,” said Ms. Richer. “There was a big thunderstorm. Tons of lighting cracking all over the town.”

She said she didn’t notice the tornado coming because her street is lined with large trees.

“And then the wind picked up and it was incredible,” she said. “It lasted only about three minutes, but it was whipping everything around.”

Tony from Woodbridge told CP 24 that he emerged from an IDA drug store but retreated inside because the skies were so dark. He said he is lucky he did, because moments later debris blew into the windows, smashing them, and a van flipped over.