The clean up continues in the Sandycove Acres adult lifestyle community, located on Lockhart Road in Innisfil – a community hit hard by last week’s severe storm.
Sandycove Acres is operated by Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities. Residents own their modular homes, but lease the land and pay for services.
Parkbridge responded immediately after high winds and a possible tornado hit the northernmost portion of Sandycove on the afternoon of July 15.
New manager Stephen Parsons was active immediately following the storm, checking on residents, providing food and beverages, as well as overnight accommodations for those displaced by storm damage and fallen trees.
On Tuesday, five days after the severe weather, Parkbridge Senior Communications Specialist Jackie Paduano was able to provide an update.
The initial assessment by South Simcoe Police and Innisfil Fire & Rescue suggested that two homes suffered severe damage, another eight experienced "moderate" damage, and seven sustained "minor" damage.
In fact, only one home on Sunset Drive remains uninhabitable, Paduano said on Tuesday, noting the home's roof ripped completely off, leaving the interior exposed to the elements. The owner has found shelter elsewhere.
Another three to five homes suffered “severe damage, but are liveable,” she said, explaining that the construction of the modular homes involves both a structural roof, and a “decorative” peaked roof. It was the decorative roofs that were damaged, while the interiors remained sound.
As for minor to moderate damage – including missing shingles, bent eavestroughs, and scattered debris – approximately 40 homes were impacted.
“It all has to be repaired,” Paduano said, adding the area, including the trees, must be cleaned up.
At least 75 trees were damaged by the winds and over 50 trees were knocked down or uprooted.
Yellow caution tape still surrounds some of the fallen trees, and stumps decorate front yards, especially on Riverview Circle. However, neatly cut logs and piled brush show that the clean-up continues, and progress is being made.
One thing continues to amaze Paduano: “There were no injuries,” she said.
