Mattawa hit by storm

Roots are visible on this tree, which was ripped out of the ground during a thunderstorm in Mattawa.
Photo by Yanka, Mattawa Adventure Camp, Special to BayToday.ca.

Mattawa was plunged into the dark Tuesday night after strong winds from a thunderstorm
knocked down power lines.

The electricity is expected to be back on by noon today.

Wim Smulders, owner of Mattawa Adventure Camp, on Hwy 17 E one kilometre outside the town, witnessed the storm moving through, particularly when winds picked up around 9 p.m.

“The wind must have hit 150 kilometres an hour because it knocked down trees and flipped one of our boats into the water,” said Smulders, who has owned the business for five years now.

Smulders said most of the damage was confined to the trees on the property, although some shutters were knocked off the lodge and three cabins belonging to the camp.

“We were very lucky because this could have been a lot worse,” he said.

One of the cottages was occupied at the time the storm hit, but the occupants declined Smulder’s invitation to take them into town, he said.

“They told me they were fine and wanted to stay.”