Hanna residents are still cleaning up after a devastating wind hammered the town early last Monday evening, Sept. 10.
The wind gusts, estimated at 90 to 120 kilometres per hour, left considerable damage in their path.
The havoc included downed power lines and uprooted trees, and the roof of a downtown business blew onto main street.
The severity of the storm prompted the Town of Hanna to declare a local state of emergency at 7:30 p.m.
“The primary reason the state of emergency was declared was so emergency crews could deal with downed power lines on private property,” said Hanna Mayor Mark Nikota.
“The bulk of the town was without power at one time.”
Power was restored to most homes later that night, but some residents didn’t regain service until Tuesday or Wednesday. That disruption was attributed to downed trees on the landowners’ properties that prevented access for repair crews.
Hundreds of mature trees were taken down in the town by the gale-force winds that hit Hanna.
“Every block lost some trees,” Nikota said.
Hector King-Hunter Park was hit hard, with many large trees uprooted and a mini-golf course destroyed.
The roof of a building that house law firm Ross, Todd and Company was torn off and dumped onto main street.
Another main street business, the Kral Professional Building, lost part of its roof, as did the Super 8 Motel.
Several other Hanna businesses and residences suffered considerable damage in the powerful wrath of Mother Nature.
The Director of Disaster Services in Hanna, Adrian Mohl, said everyone is pitching in to help each other out, adding it’s amazing nobody was seriously hurt, considering how much debris was blowing around.
“Lots or residents who have lived here 30, 40 or 50 years say it’s the worst windstorm they have ever seen,” Nikota said.
Outside crews from Drumheller and Calgary are in Hanna, helping residents with the daunting task of cleanup.