Reaction pours in from July 18 tornado near Rocky Mountain House

Rocky Mountain House’s mayor says damage in town from a July 18 tornado is largely superficial, while residents in Clearwater County are reporting destroyed buildings, downed trees, overturned grain bins, damaged calf shelters and golf-ball-sized hail.

“It was scary,” said Mayor Shane Boniface, who watched the storm roll in from his home in Rocky.

Boniface said homes on his street escaped damage, but buildings in other parts of town — including a hotel on the southeast end — sustained damage.

Town crews were mobilized immediately to assess damage, while emergency protocols were put in place, he said.

Boniface added he received calls from MLA Jason Nixon and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, both of whom offered provincial support.

In the meantime, the mayor says crews have been busy clearing trees and inspecting power lines.

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The impact in Clearwater County was much more widespread. Reeve Jordon Northcott said initial assessments showed more than 50 damaged properties, with some structures completely destroyed.

Northcott said he was rafting south of Rocky Mountain House when the storm rolled in.

Clearwater County is continuing its damage assessment. Northcott said Nixon and Williams have also been in contact with the county to offer assistance. He added early discussions are underway with the Alberta government on a program to help landowners whose properties were damaged.

Along with the damage to buildings, debris has been spread out across fields in the tornado’s paths which Northcott says will have to be addressed with harvest season just around the corner.

“There will be impacts that will affect people,” he said. “It will be something remembered in the community for a long time.”