It was one year ago today that life changed forever for the residents of Port aux Basques and surrounding area.
The remnants of Hurricane Fiona slammed into the province’s southwest coast with a storm surge that swept over the natural breakwater outside Channel and pulled homes and other buildings into the ocean.
The devastation that resulted went beyond what many in the province have ever seen and left the region in shock.
Mayor Brian Button says to this day, many people feel very differently about their relationship with the ocean.
(Photo via John Organ.)
He says he’s had people tell him that they’ve lived their whole lives near the ocean, but they don’t want to go back there. “This experience has been traumatic; it’s left a scar.” Button says. “There’s no going back and wanting to live by the water.”
A gathering to mark the anniversary is happening this afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. to acknowledge the profound impact the storm has had on the lives of residents, not just of Port aux Basques, but surrounding communities. Button says they’ve adopted the slogan; “Stronger than the Storm.”
He understands, however, that there are people who continue to struggle and question their ability to adapt to what they’ve been through and their new reality.
Today’ gathering is taking place on Water Street East in Channel at the location of a tree that, despite the punishing waves, remains standing.
