F-2 Tornado Damage - June 23, 2010

Midland, Ontario

A tornado touches down in Midland, causing up to $15 million in damage.

There was a moderate risk for severe weather in Southern Ontario and the worst of it came in the form of an F-2 tornado that touched down in the town of Midland with wind speeds in the 180-240 km/h range. The hardest hit area was Smith's Camp Trailer Park where between 50-60 residences were destroyed and many more damaged. Luckily, the tornado struck during the work week when there were not that many people in the park. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported but that would've been a very different story had the tornado struck on the weekend.   This tornado seemed to almost aim for the trailer park with laser-like precision. It took a direct hit. It's a myth that tornadoes target trailer parks. It just seems that way because they are easily damaged by winds that wouldn't harm a well constructed house as badly.   I managed to be one of the first photographers on the scene after the police started letting the residents back into the park to see what was left of their neighborhood.

Tractor-trailers blown over on King Street in Midland.	A blown over cargo van. Note the "for sale" sign in the window.

A snapped of lamp post. The wires are the only thing still holding the top up.	One of several helicopters surveying the damage as seen through the blown out sign from the Midland Honda dealership.

A snapped light post on King Street.	A small portion of the media frenzy. Numerous news crews wait for permission to enter the hardest hit area.

Ground zero. Inside the Smith's Camp Trailer Park where the most damage occurred.	One of over 50 destroyed residences in the park.

Widespread destruction with debris strewn everywhere.	A gaping hole ripped in the side of one trailer.

Some of these trailers were lifted and rolled over top of each other.	A member of the damage survey team examines the area to determine the F-Scale rating of the tornado.

The blank spot where one of the trailers was lifted from. It is now in the pile in the background.	The orange spray paint markings are left over from when the search and rescue teams did their initial search for victims.

It is incredible that there were no fatalities or life threatening injuries.	A trailer that was lifted and dropped on an SUV.

If the tornado had struck on a weekend, this park would've been full of people and the result would've been much worse.	A kid's toy car amongst the wreckage of the neighborhood.

The Environment Canada damage survey team at work. They rated the tornado as being an F-2, with wind speeds in the range of 180-240 km/h.	Despite only being rated F-2, the tornado did a lot of damage to the trailers, which are notorious for not being very sturdy.

A wrecked bike in the debris.	Many of the trees were snapped like twigs by the tornado.

The Environment Canada vehicle stuck in the mud. They needed a little push to get moving, but of course, I had to snap a photo before helping out.	A tree branch that punctured the metal siding of one of the trailers.

Pieces of wood often become deadly missiles during tornadoes.	It only seems that trailer parks get hit by tornadoes so often. In reality, it doesn't take a very strong tornado to decimate the weak structures compared to well constructed brick homes.

 

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