IN PHOTOS: Damage in Barrhaven After Powerful Storm

By Charlie Senack, Barrhaven Independent

Barrhaven is busy cleaning up after a powerful storm tore through the community, leaving a path of destruction. Hundreds of trees across the community are down, tens of thousands were left without power.

It was about 4:20 pm on Saturday, May 21, when a severe thunderstorm warning was sent out to peoples phones. About 20 minute later the wind and rain started, causing extensive damage.

Half of Barrhaven was left in the dark Saturday evening, with residents waking up to the sounds of chainsaws and generators on Sunday.

Below is a look at some of the damage left behind in Barrhaven and surrounding communities:

Barrhaven

Many trees toppled over or were split in two throughout Old Barrhaven. This tree on SandHead Terrace near Knollsbrook and Foxfield was too big to miss the two vehicles parked beside it. The neighbourhood rallied together to chop up a large portion of the fallen tree in order to clear the road for vehicles.

While Merivale Road remained open in both directions for traffic, hydro wires were left lying across the road, and two cars were in the ditch. Part of a hydro pole fell on top of a red Toyota Yaris, which was driving into Barrhaven at the time of the storm.

Merivale

Merivale Road received some of the worse damage in the city. About a dozen poles have fallen onto the road near Merivale High School, and St. Monica School is switching to remote learning after receiving extensive damage to the roof. Cleanup crews were there throughout the day to clear debris from the roof and inspect the damage.