Severe thunderstorm engulfs central Alberta, leaves Red Deer in local state of emergency
A severe thunderstorm has caused significant property damage and power outages across central Alberta while prompting the city of Red Deer to declare a local state of emergency.
At the height of the storm, Red Deer was reportedly being hit with 100 km/h wind gusts. The atmosphere was described by several residents as tornado-like, though there was no meteorological evidence to suggest that that was actually the case.
Following the onset of the storm on Tuesday evening, home and business owners throughout the region began seeing property damage occur. Trees came falling down and debris flew dangerously. According to the Canadian Press, the roof of a Red Deer local business was completely torn off and came crashing down on nearby parked cars.
Initially, about 35 per cent of the city was experiencing power outages. As of Wednesday evening that figure had been downgraded to 15 per cent. Red Deer mayor Tara Veer said that those who are still without power should prepare to be electricity-free for another 72 hours, as storm damage has made the task of restoring power to certain areas particularly difficult.
Nearby Sylvan Lake was also hit hard, leaving approximately 600 residences with power outages. The storm and its wind gusts extended up to Edmonton, where there have been over 200 reports of down or damaged trees.
With property damage so prevalent on the minds of central Albertans, the Insurance Bureau of Canada issued a statement regarding protocol in this difficult time.
"The first priority is to ensure the safety of yourself and your family," it read. "Insurers across Alberta want to remind consumers that when severe weather occurs, it is important to understand their insurance policies and to know what is covered. If damage occurs, policyholders should contact their insurance representatives if they have questions."