A devastating hurricane which took out homes and reshaped our coastlines slammed into the southwest corner of Newfoundland two years ago today. Houses were swept out to sea and key infrastructure was damaged. Close to 150 homes in Port aux Basques alone were either destroyed or left standing but deemed to be uninhabitable.
Thelma Leaman, who was in her 70s, was swallowed up by the swollen sea as the ferocity of the storm, and the storm surge, took many by surprise.
Mayor Brian Button says restoration and repair work continues to this day.
People wonder why it has taken two years for things, such as armourstone installation, to take so long. Initially, 86 homes were destroyed but another 57 homes are in a high impact area which means they will be coming down, says Mayor Button.
Mayor Button also notes the effect the devastation has had on people’s mental health, especially during hurricane season. And the loss of Thelma Leeman has been tough on everyone.
He says she was a community person, and her loss has had an impact on a lot of people. He notes that people had to move out of their homes—in some cases it was where they lived when they were born and lived their entire lives.
“It has been tough,” notes the mayor.