Tornado Resource Page
This page highlights actions that the Municipality of Tweed has taken in response to the July 2022 Tornado. This page also serves as a resource to residents to highlight planned actions that will be coming in the near future, and works that have been already scheduled to occur.
Planned Actions:
- Upon receipt of signed Property Access Waiver and Release Forms, schedule and map out planned clean up work within 30-metres of structures (focusing on primary dwellings) – Planning on May through August
- With access to river granted through signed forms, begin arranging for contractors to clear large debris from river, reducing flood risk concerns – planning on Fall
- Order trees, shrubs and plants that are appropriate for the 15-metre shoreline planting area
- Arrange for planting of trees with properties providing signed access within the shorelines most affected by uprooted trees
- Discussions are underway with Quinte Conservation for reforestation.
Scheduled work/Actions:
Quarry St. is closed for dumping, all brush must now go to the Waste Site on Marlbank Rd.
Work/Actions Completed to Date (Newest to Oldest):
Monday, October 2, 2023
Request for additional funding support
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Letter from Mayor DeGenova to Minister Sajjan
Monday, July 10, 2023
Letter from Mayor DeGenova with update on Tornado Support.
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
- Roadside clearing deemed complete.
Monday, May 1, 2023
Letter from MP Shelby Kramp Neuman to the Honourable Marco Mendicino.
Monday, April 17, 2023
- Thank you letter from Mayor DeGenova to MP Kramp-Neuman
- Ontario Fire Smart information session at Actinolite Hall
- Fire Smart materials are being provided at the Municipal Office.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
- Thank you letter from Mayor DeGenova to MPP Bressee
- Thank you letter from Mayor DeGenova to Minister Smith
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Monday, April 3, 2023
- Emergency Working Control Group met to discuss final notice to affected residents along with Property Access Waiver and Release form and review secured contractors
- Letter from the Honourable Graydon Smith.
Monday, March 27 to Thursday, March 30, 2023
- Mayor and CAO/Treasurer interviewed by several news agencies as follow-up to the funding announcement from Minister Smith
- Mayor interviewed by Kiernan Green from Canada Press
- Mayor Interviewed by Lorne Brooker CJBQ
- Mayor Interviewed by Global News: “Tweed, Ont. to receive $1.2M to help with last summer’s tornado cleanup
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
- CEMC (Community Emergency Management Coordinator) took the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund webinar to determine if project applies to us
- Received fully executed funding agreement back from MNRF for $1,203,801.74
- Mayor interviewed on Lorne Brooke Show
- Tweed News: “Municipality of Tweed receives $1.2 million from province for tornado/derecho clean-up”
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
- Emergency Working Control Group met to discuss funding and how to allocate between priorities and arranged to start securing contractors
- Priorities noted as clearing debris from key areas of Skoottamatta River (along Varty Road and in Actinolite)
- Priorities noted as clearing debris from 30-metre radius of structures (focusing first on primary dwellings) for property owners willing to authorize our contractors onto their properties – in accordance with Fire Smart Program
- Reforestation along riverbanks that had root upheaval and experiencing or at risk of experiencing erosion
- Clearing of 19 km of road’s ditches.
- CAO/Treasurer provided list of 265 property owners within the tornado impacted area to Fire Prevention Officer to begin sorting out how many will require the Fire Smart 30-metre
- Municipality issued Press Release
- Linda Ward interview on CBC Ontario Morning: Tornado relief for Tweed: a campground owner and the mayor weigh in
Monday, March 27, 2023
- Minister Smith and PA Bresee of MNRF announced funding support of $5.5 million towards 22 municipalities impacted by tornado and derecho in 2022 at Haids Hideaway -Council in attendance.
- Municipality of Tweed included in announcement for $1,203,801.74 of funding
- CBC Interview: Rural Ontario communities get $5.5M to help extreme weather cleanup
Thursday, March 23, 2023
- Spoke with Quinte Conservation as to options for reforestation along riverbanks for limiting risks of erosion
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
- Received and signed Transfer Payment Agreement for funding – negotiated changes to permit up to 20% flexibility between reforestation efforts and debris cleanup efforts
Monday, March 20, 2023
- Received news of funding awarded for 1,203,801.74
Friday March 17, 2023
- Received notice of potential Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund applications – arranged for CEMC to attend information session to see if it would apply for costs Provincial funding, if successful, will not cover
Monday, March 13, 2023
- Team Rubicon Canada onsite to complete winter cutting training within the impacted tornado region
- Emergency Working Control Group met to review final version of funding submissions
- Submitted request for $2,705,280 to Ministry
Thursday, March 9, 2023
- Emergency Working Control Group met to review draft and finalize direction and plans for funding submission
Tuesday, March 7 to Thursday, March 9, 2023
- Worked on initial budget of priority work after discussions with Team Rubicon Canada and MNRF staff relating to the available funding program
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
- Emergency Working Control Group met to discuss MNRF funding opportunity and priorities.
Friday, March 3, 2023
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) reached out with opportunity to apply for funding, due date of March 13, 2023
Thursday, March 2, 2023
- Ministry reached out with opportunity to arrange Ontario Fire Smart Workshop for residents of our area for free
Month of February 2023
- Negotiating contract with MNRF for expanding aerial fire coverage to non-crown land
- Negotiated contract to cover between 20,000 and 25,000 hectares of private lands by MNRF
- Coverage area covers the tornado area and a buffer zone along and to the south of Hwy 7
- 5-year contract covering April to November fire season coverage for grass, bush, and wildfire
- Costs Municipality $6,500 per year.
- Coverage provides aerial fire suppression planes (water bombers) as well as airlifted firefighters into the middle of forest for precision fire fighting
- Volunteer fire department will continue to cover areas 100 feet from the centre line of the road
Monday, February 6, 2023
- Mayor interviewed by Fawwaz Muhammad-Yusuf for Global News relating to tornado impacts
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
- Mayor had a virtual meeting with CTV Ottawa regarding the impact for residents by the tornado Tweed tornado: Residents frustrated by lack of help 6 months later | CTV News
Friday, January 27, 2023
- Mayor interviewed by Alan Neal on the Ottawa All in a Day CBC radio show: “Six months after a tornado hit the Tweed area, clean up of downed trees and other massive repairs are yet to happen. Tweed Mayor Don DeGenova tells us about the concerns it's raising for residents”
- Individual who saw CBC news from Wednesday, January 25, 2023 sent request on behalf of all Ontario citizens impacted by severe weather, but specifically the tornado, in 2022 to Mr. Stéphane Sarrazin PA to the Minister of Energy
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Monday, January 16 to Friday, January 20, 2023
- Finalized report for Mayor’s review for delegation with PA Bresee
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
- Response from MMAH that delegation request denied
Monday, January 16, 2023
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
- Resident shared response from MPP Ric Bresee office they received stating that “the current [DRAO] programs focus on wide swathes of destroyed homes, rather than a few individual ones.”
Friday, December 23, 2022
- Received phone call from MMAH confirming that the Disaster Relief Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program will not be offered to residents
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
- MPP Ric Bresee spoke on Quinte News https://www.quintenews.com/2022/12/21/298151/
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Friday, December 16, 2022
- Interviewed by Tim Durkin from Quinte News with focus on tornado
Thursday, December 15, 2022
- Mayor hosted on Lorne Brooker show discussing the tornado and the December 13th town hall meeting Lorne Brooker Show | CJBQ 800 am
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
- Call from MP Shelby Kramp Neuman, invitation for town hall had not been received by their office
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
- Held Special Council Meeting to receive various delegations from affected residents
- Summarized videos, photos, and account submissions from residents for a delegation package to the Ministry
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Friday, December 2, 2022
Monday, November 28, 2022
- Submitted delegation request to MMAH over lack of response for disaster relief program
- Submitted delegation request to MNRF relating to flood and fire risks due to tornado
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
- Mayor Don DeGenova announced Special Council Meeting (Open House) to be hosted on December 13, 2022 for tornado victims to share stories, experiences, photos and videos for the Municipality’s upcoming delegations at ROMA
Monday, November 14, 2022
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
- Quinte Conservation Authority, CEMC, and Manager of Public Works met to assess the tornado debris in the river and were informed that the Province indicated that Quinte Conservation Authority may receive financial assistance for removal of trees from river (though this has not yet been confirmed)
- Received detailed response from MNRF in relation to letter previously sent (see Att.#7)
Friday, October 21, 2022
- Received news that MPP Ric Bresee contacted Quinte Conservation Authority and wants them, plus our CEMC and Public Works Manager to meet at the river and review the potential flooding concerns and provide a plan to the Province
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Thursday, September 29, 2022
- Responded back to the province that the MDRAP was not what we were asking about but whether the DRAO was going to be opened 8:13 am
- Province responded only with how program works 12:35 pm
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
- Sent email requesting response from Province as to whether the Disaster Relief Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program would be open – 2:00 pm
- Responded with information about the Municipal infrastructure program 4:38 pm
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Monday, August 29, 2022
- Mayor issued letters to Hon. Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry requesting aide for forest and river clean up (see Att.#2)
- Mayor issued letter to Quinte Conservation Authority (see Att.#3)
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
- Reached out to City of Ottawa Public Works department for how they are addressing disaster recovery issues this year
Thursday, August 18, 2022
- Emergency Working Control Group Meeting 3:03 pm
- Reviewed State of Emergency requirements and compared to situation
- All roads opened
- Hydro restored
- No NGOs remain in area
- Do not meet any requirements for keeping State of Emergency for Tornado
- Cancelled State of Emergency at 3:35 pm
- Meeting ended at 4:05 pm
- Media Release
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
- Received final report from Team Rubicon Canada of work orders issued and brush managed
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
- Opened site at end of Quarry St in Actinolite for brush from tornado victims
Monday, August 8, 2022
- Team Rubicon Canada done and fully cleared out after Emergency Meeting
- Noted they issued total of 55 work orders
- Managed 20,500 cubic yards (estimate) of brush
- Emergency Working Control Group Meeting 3:00 pm
- Identified property in Actinolite owned by the Municipality that had easy access to water source and limited structures near – agreed to arrange to make into new brush dumping site for tornado victims and controlled burns to be considered when safe to do so
- Meeting ended 3:50 pm
- Media Release
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
- Tour with MMAH (2 representatives and 1 insurance adjuster appointed by Province), Emergency Management Ontario representative, Emergency Working Control Group, MPP Ric Bresee, Hastings County Emergency Planning Coordinator, and 2 representatives from Team Rubicon Canada – tour started at 9:30 am
- Tour ended at about 1:40 pm
- Sent map of tornado route and damaged areas to Province’s insurance adjuster to ensure they had all information 2:32 pm
- Emergency Working Control Group Meeting 2:38 pm
- Meeting ended 3:27 pm
- Team Rubicon Canada began assessments on properties for establishing work orders sorted by priority levels
- Team Rubicon Canada took over management of NGO’s (Mennonite Disaster Services and Christian Aid Ministries)
- Media Release
Friday, July 29, 2022
- Emergency Reception Centre opened at 8:30 am at Arena manned by Municipal staff
- Emergency Reception Centre closed at 12:00 noon
Thursday, July 28, 2022
- Emergency Reception Centre opened at 8:30 am at Arena manned by Municipal staff
- Continued coordination of NGO’s
- Continued clearing of final brush off travelled portion of roads
- Continued restoration of hydro
- Province reached out for phone call 9:58 am
- Call completed 12:26 pm – confirmed deployment of Provincial Disaster Assessment Team for August 2, 2022
- Emergency Working Control Group met 3:04 pm
- Arranged for Byers to accept brush but at price to residents
- Noted all power available at time of meeting
- Confirmation of new NGO – Team Rubicon Canada – to be onsite next week to assess and help private land owners
- Meeting ended at 4:02 pm
- Emergency Reception Centre closed at 8:00 pm
- Media Release July 28th - Afternoon
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
- Emergency Reception Centre opened at 8:30 am at Arena – offering water, food, showers, gas cards, etc.) – again manned by County staff
- Ministry responded to information provided night before that it was received 10:43 am
- Public Works continued pushing back brush off roads
- Power getting restored to more homes by Hydro One
- Continued coordination of volunteer groups (NGOs – Community Care, Christian Aid Ministries, Lions)
- Emergency Working Control Group met 3:00 pm
- MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman spoke of her tour of damage
- Warden Rick Phillips spoke of his tour of damage
- Reported that Reception Centre saw total of 46 individuals/households come through in 3 days
- Meeting ended at 3:43 pm
- Emergency Reception Centre closed at 8:00 pm
- Media Release July 27th - Afternoon
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
- Emergency Reception Centre opened at 8:30 am at library
- Emergency Working Control Group Meeting 9:02 am
- Power noted as returning to some areas but still had 800 customers out across their detachment (which includes Tweed)
- Noted a Non-Government Organization (NGO) reached out to offer free clean-up for those under insured or lacking insurance
- Meeting ended at 9:45 am
- Coordinated with Community Care, Lions, and Christian Aid Ministries for supporting local residents
- Public Works continued expanding road access to wider widths
- Fire completed several more wellness checks
- Received information from Insurance Bureau of Canada
- Installed new tap on outside of Arena
- Phone conversation with Province at 1:00 pm
- Emergency Working Control Group Meeting at 3:08 pm
- Adjourned at 4:09 pm
- Emergency Management Ontario reached out with list of potential NGOs 3:41 pm
- Hastings County Emergency Planning Coordinator contacted Province on our behalf with update 7:32 pm
- Emergency Reception Centre closed at 8:00 pm
- Media Release July 26th - Afternoon.
Monday, July 25, 2022
- As sun began to rise, Manager of Public Works identified the extent of damage and called Mayor Albert at around 6:00 am and followed by calling the CAO/Treasurer at 6:30 am
- CAO/Treasurer contacted CEMC at 6:33 am and Emergency Working Control Group was called together to meet at 9:00 am
- During this time, the Public Works Manager took the Mayor on a quick tour to see the extent of damage that was accessible (as most roads could not be traversed)
- Group met at 9:00 am until 10:24 am
- Contacted Library CEO to arrange for Emergency Reception Area to be hosted there to provide residents a location to go, get water, food and register in case anyone searching for them – 9:55 am and confirmed 10:07 am
- Reached out to Hastings County Emergency Planning Coordinator who was on the way down with other County Community & Human Services department support at 10:03 am
- Declared State of Emergency during meeting
- Issued Social Media Post at 10:24 am
- Public Works and Hydro continued clearing roads and freeing people trapped down Varty Road, Potter Settlement Road, Black River Road North, French Settlement Road North, Ekblad Road, and Bridgewater Road and in the other areas
- Fire Department started door to door assessment for those trapped or in need
- Note OPP completed fly over with helicopter with video of damaged areas
- Second meeting of Emergency Working Control Group at 3:00 pm
- All roads opened for local traffic except Ekblad Road and Potter Settlement Road
- Note reception centre open until 8:00 pm that night and will be held at Library again on Tuesday from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm – staffed by Hastings County Emergency Planning and Community & Human Services departments
- Meeting ended at 3:58 pm
- Departments and staff continued to work providing emergency response
- Fire department continued with door-to-door visits
- All roads opened by 5:00 pm for local traffic access only
- Emergency Reception Centre closed 8:00 pm
Sunday, July 24, 2022
- Severe Thunderstorm alert issued for area during the day
- At or around 8:30 pm, alert upgraded to Tornado warning
- Shortly after 8:30 pm storm/tornado struck (map of path attached – Att.#1)
- First call from 911 dispatch at 8:54 pm
- Volunteer firefighters were enroute at 20:59 pm
- Others called out: Hydro One, OPP, Hastings County Paramedics, Tweed Roads Department – all working all night in dark
