Residents across Windsor-Essex spent Thursday cleaning up after an early-morning storm brought strong winds, hail and heavy rain to the region, toppling trees and damaging homes. In Stoney Point, some of the most visible damage could be found along Hare Street, where residents said they were jolted awake around 3 a.m. Mandy McNames said she first heard something strike the back of her home before the house began to shake. “There was a big bang,” she said. “When I looked out the backyard, there was this tree here — and then when I went up to my front yard and opened my front windows, my whole front tree was in my front yard on my house.” Despite the damage, McNames said she and her dog were not hurt. Environment Canada recorded a thunderstorm at Windsor Airport at 3 a.m. with northerly winds gusting to 68 km/h. Around the same time, a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect for parts of Essex County, including Stoney Point, with strong wind gusts, hail and heavy rain among the threats. Just down the street, Greg St. John said hail woke his household around 3:20 a.m. As they prepared to take their dog into the basement, the storm damaged the home. “Patio door glass broke and blew right through the house,” he said, adding they then experienced heavy winds. St. John, who has lived in the area for four years, said he had experienced strong winds before, but “never like that.” Elsewhere in Stoney Point, two large trees beside the Stoney Point Sportsmen’s Club along the waterfront were completely uprooted. The extensive tree damage kept cleanup crews moving from property to property throughout the day. Max Mills, who works for Arquette Tree Service, said his crew learned Thursday morning it would be dealing with several storm-related calls. “We got a list going now, so we’ll probably be sent the rest of the day,” Mills said. The effects of the storm were also felt by local wildlife. Wings Rehab said its wildlife hotline had been “ringing off the hooks” Thursday morning as staff triaged animals affected by the high winds. Among them were three squirrels taken into the rehabilitation centre’s care after their nest was blown out of a tree. The organization said many of the animals being brought in were soaked, cold and lethargic. Birds and bats can also be injured or displaced by strong winds, prompting Wings Rehab to ask residents to watch around the bases of trees, roads and homes for wildlife that may need help. The threat of severe weather was not necessarily over after the morning cleanup. Environment Canada continued to warn Thursday that additional thunderstorms could bring damaging wind gusts, large hail and heavy downpours to parts of the region through the evening. Back on Hare Street, residents said neighbours showing up to help had made a difficult day easier. McNames said friends immediately began checking on her and helping remove branches that had fallen near the power line to her home. “It’s been a little bit crazy, but I’ve got great people taking care of me,” she said. For McNames, the storm came during an already emotional week. She turns 51 on Friday, just days after the death of someone close to her. “I lost a friend on Monday,” McNames said. “She was looking over me today.”
