Edmonton tornado
| F4 tornado | |
|---|---|
| File:Edmonton tornado.jpg The 1987 tornado | |
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Fatalities | 27 |
| Damage | $550 million (2005 CAD)[1] |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
The Edmonton tornado was a powerful and devastating tornado that ripped through the eastern part of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and parts of neighbouring Strathcona County on the afternoon of Friday, July 31, 1987 (also known as "Black Friday" to Edmontonians).
The tornado remained on the ground for an hour, cutting a path of destruction 40 kilometres (25 miles) long and up to a kilometre wide in places, and reaching wind speeds up to 460 km (260 miles) per hour, peaking at F4 on the Fujita scale. The tornado killed 27 people, injured more than 300 people, destroyed more than 300 homes, and caused more than $330 million in property damage at four major disaster sites. The loss of life, injuries and destruction of property made it the worst natural disaster in Alberta's recent history and one of the worst in Canada's history.
Weather forecasts issued during the morning and early afternoon of July 31, 1987 for Edmonton revealed a recognition by Environment Canada of a high potential for unusually severe thunderstorms that afternoon. Environment Canada responded swiftly upon receipt of the first report of a tornado touchdown from a resident of Leduc County which is immediately adjacent to Edmonton's southern boundary.
Chronology of events on July 31st, 1987
- 1:40 pm Severe thunderstorm watch issued for the City of Edmonton, Counties of Leduc, Parkland and Strathcona
- 2:45 pm Severe thunderstorm warning issued for same area
- 2:52 pm Weatheradio emergency tone activated for Edmonton transmitter
- 2:59 pm Tornado sighting reported to weather office by a citizen near Leduc, 25 km south of Edmonton
- 3:04 pm Tornado warning issued over Weatheradio
- 3:25 pm F2 - F3 Tornado strikes the southeast area of Mill Woods
- 3:30 pm F4 Tornado plows through Refinery Row killing 12 people and injuring many more
- 4:25 pm F3 - F2 Tornado dissipates after extensively damaging Evergreen Trailer Park causing injuries and 15 deaths
Post-disaster response
While municipal emergency agencies, Fire Departments, Ambulance and Police were responding, the Department of National Defence (Canada) placed helicopters and ambulances on standby at the Canadian Forces Base, Edmonton, and provided reconnaissance flights for the City of Edmonton and the deputy prime minister.
At the onset of the storm Emergency Preparedness Canada established contact with the Alberta Government Emergency Response Centre. EPC established a liaison office at the response centre at approximately 1800 hours that same day.
As Emergency personnel responded to the industrial area, potential threats from dangerous goods came to light. Alberta's Compliance Information Centre dispatched its dangerous goods inspectors and the provincial environmental response team to the area.
The emergent post-disaster response period lasted for approximately three weeks including immediate disaster assistance for victims. At the end of August 1987 details of the overall damage costs were gathered and the Government of Alberta announced an extensive disaster recovery program with the assistance of the Government of Canada.
The Alberta Emergency Public Warning System was developed as a result of the 1987 Tornado Disaster. The Warning system breaks into private and public broadcasts on radio, television and cable systems. It alerts the public for all disaster hazards that threaten to strike with little or no warning. The Warning system is also used for issuing Amber alerts.