By Nigel Maxwell

Stories of 2010, #3 Storm wreaks havoc in the city

Dec 29, 2010 | 5:19 AM

Trees that had survived for more than 50 years were no match for the winds, topping more than 100 kilometres per hour, that blew through Prince Albert in July.

Parked vehicles provided a cushion for their fall, much to the chagrin of the vehicle owners.

Images of the destruction are still fresh in local residents' minds.

Jen Seidel was in her third floor apartment when the storm hit.

“My boyfriend told me to stay away from the window, the trees are (going) come down. I didn't believe him but then the top of a large pine tree almost came crashing through our window,” she said.

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After the storm, Seidel said she grabbed her camera and went outside.

“We went and looked at some peoples’ yards and they had no backyards. It looked like someone had just tossed trees and fences in there.”

Seidel said it was also strange to see a grain bin lying in the middle of Marquis Road.

“It was amazing the number of trees that were down and snapped off, and then to drive by Carlton(High School) and see a roof laying in the middle of the parking lot,” said Jim Bristowe, who was out driving that day.

“In the city yards, to see the roof was torn off one of the buildings and left lying in a nearby car dealership lot was a big surprise.”

There was a lot of damage at Cooke Municipal Golf Course too. Large trees were split in half and the fairways were covered with branches.

In the days following, the community really came together.

Hundreds of people helped to clean up the golf course.

As a result the Northern Men's Amateur golf tournament was able to take place.

Inmate work crews from the Saskatchewan Penitentiary also helped out with the city clean up.

At the time, the city's Community Services Director estimated total tree damage to be in the millions of dollars

nmaxwell@panow.com

Previous stories from 2010's top 10:

Stories of 2010, #10 Relay for Life success

Stories of 2010, #9 Fire Mentor Program cancelled

Stories of 2010, #8 First Nations University nearly closes

Stories of 2010, #7 Emotional rollercoaster around pulp mill

Stories of 2010, #6 Spring brings serious crime

Stories of 2010, #5 Memories of the Olympic torch

Stories of 2010, #4 Wet weather brought farming fright