In the aftermath of one of the strongest tornadoes to hit Alberta in almost 40 years, Samaritan’s Purse has put staff on the ground in the community of Didsbury to help residents whose homes and farms were damaged.
Five houses were destroyed and nine others heavily damaged by the Canada Day twister. It shredded and toppled trees, and downed power lines. Golf ball and tennis ball-size hail also pelted areas around the rural town that were spared the potent winds. Thankfully, there were no deaths and only one minor injury.
“We’re very thankful that only a small number of properties were damaged by the tornado—but those properties were truly devastated,” said Keith Waara, senior program developer with Samaritan’s Purse’s Canadian Disaster Relief ministry.
“Those homeowners lost so much, so we want to help them in Jesus’ Name.”
We will be cleaning up properties, tarping damaged roofs in preparation for repair, and removing any fridges and freezers that have been without power for many days and have dangerously rotten contents. All at no cost to the homeowners.
Thanks to generous financial partners like you, Samaritan’s Purse has responded to several Canadian tornadoes and hurricanes. In 2022 and 2019, we helped Prince Edward Island residents clean up their homes and properties after Hurricanes Fiona and Dorian swept across the province.
In 2017, Samaritan’s Purse volunteers assisted more than 200 Ottawa homeowners affected by tornadoes. We also helped Newfoundland residents after a 2018 hurricane and Leamington, Ontario homeowners in the aftermath of a 2010 tornado.
Note: This story was originally published on July 5 and updated on July 10.
Help Samaritan's Purse respond quickly to victims of disasters within Canada, providing not only physical assistance as people clean up and rebuild after floods, fires, and other disasters, but also emotional and spiritual support in the aftermath of tragedy.