Donations:

  • The Township of Essa is accepting cash donations to give financial assistance to residents affected by the June 17 tornado. Click here for more details.
  • Anyone who wants to make a donation of clothing, toys, toiletries, shoes, and more can do so at the Angus Recreation Centre, 8527 County Rd. 10. People who want to donate food, water, and drinks can go to the Angus Food Bank, which is behind the recreation centre.

Returning home:

  • Essa Township Mayor Terry Dowdall says inspections and assessments are being done at homes hit by the tornado. A list will be posted in the community and at the township's website as they are completed to let residents know whether it's safe for them to return home.

Residents' meetings:

  • Daily meetings are being held at the Angus arena at 8529 County Road 10 at 4 p.m. every day. This meeting is for all residents that have been affected by the tornado.

Clean-Up:

  • There is a crew of Mennonite Disaster Relief personnel on site cleaning up construction debris only - drywall, lumber, shingles - and placing it into two large bins made available by the County of Simcoe.  It's anticipated that there will be more members of the Mennonite Disaster Relief team available to help tomorrow. It will be a labour-intensive task and will take some time, the town says.

2-1-1:

  • The County of Simcoe is working with 2-1-1 to make information about additional services available to the community. Anyone who need help can dial 211 at any time.

Waste collection:

  • The County of Simcoe is providing brush and yard waste collection Friday, June 20 to tornado-impacted areas in Angus. Residents are asked to bundle the brush with string.
  • The county is offering curbside waste pickup Friday, June 20 for anyone who missed the regular June 18 pickup because of closed roads.
  • Regular collection resumes Wednesday.
  • County Landfill and Waste Diversion Site 13 – Tosorontio, and Site 10 Nottawasaga waste management facilities will be extended from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily through to Saturday, June 28. Site 13 is located at 6815 Concession Road 4, Township of Adjala-Tosorontio and Site 10 is located at 5715 County Road 64, Stayner, Township of Clearview. Drop off of brush is free (no fees apply for separated brush, leaf, and yard waste).

Mail service:

  • Customers living on Banting Crescent, Stonemount Crescent and Quigley Street will not receive mail delivery on Wednesday. They can go to the Angus post office at 91 Curtis Street with proper government-approved photo identification and pick up their mail.

Medications:

  • Local pharmacies are helping people refill prescriptions for those who can’t get home

Insurance claims:

  • Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is setting up its Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (CAMP) in the Angus Recreation Centre so that residents affected can have quick access to on-site insurance related information. The IBC has sent two investigators to the area, and Wilson says they have experience with similar situations including the tornado in Midland and in Goderich, and one was involved in the ice storm in Eastern Ontario.

Damage:

  • Residents whose homes were damaged by yesterday's tornado asked to call Essa Building Dept at 705-424-9770.

Food safety:

  • The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reminds residents to consider food safety during a power outage and weather event. For more information on food and water safety click here.

Canadian Forces Members

  • Canadian Forces Base Borden is providing emergency housing for defence team members whose homes were damaged by the tornado. The base has programs in place to help members at times like this.

BMO customers

  • BMO Bank of Montreal has a tornado relief program to help its customers affected by the tornado in Angus. The relief program for BMO clients include local payment deferrals, two-month deferrals of loan principal and interest payments for two months, and other special accommodations being developed on a case-by-case basis.