4 patients remain in Ottawa hospitals after Friday tornadoes

Four people remain in the care of the Ottawa Hospital Monday morning — including one in critical condition and another in serious condition — after tornadoes struck the city on Friday.

The other two victims are in fair condition, a hospital spokesperson said by phone.

The total number of patients was down from six on Friday after the severe weather had passed. No other information about the victims was immediately available.

In Gatineau, where another tornado struck, two people were treated in hospital for fractures and 15 others came to the emergency room Friday, Friday night and Saturday to be treated for shock, according to a western Quebec health official.

Power restored for many overnight

Meanwhile, Hydro Ottawa crews managed to restore power to thousands of customers overnight, two days after the tornadoes struck the National Capital Region.

As of 11 a.m. ET Monday, about 3,700 customers remained without power, mainly in the Nepean area. At 11 p.m. Sunday, the number without power in Ottawa was about 33,000.

The last few thousand customers without power in Arlington Woods, Craig Henry, Leslie Park, Centrepointe, Manordale and Sheahan Estates will require a more individualized response, according to Joseph Muglia, Hydro Ottawa's director of distribution operations. 

Hydro Ottawa crews and external contractors will be out "in full force" Monday doing line checks and looking into the issues at individual properties.

Just outside Ottawa in Hydro One territory, about 1,600 customers remained without power east of Belleville as of 11 a.m.

In the Outaouais, Hydro Qué​bec reported that about 3,400 customers were without power as of 11 a.m.

Looking for food, water or shelter?

Ottawa residents who have been affected by the power outage and are in need of food, water and shelter can call 311 and select option 4.

In ​Dunrobin — where 53 buildings are either destroyed, unsalvageable or require major repairs — about 80 volunteers were being paired up with firefighters Monday to board up windows and doors in the heaviest-hit areas, according to Coun. Eli El-Chantiry.

Rain is in the forecast for Tuesday, so crews will focus on preventing further water damage.​

In Gatineau, about 60 buildings remained off limits Sunday night. Of the 212 buildings evacuated, 153 are expected to be returned to their owners, according to the city. 

The City of Ottawa has established a vulnerable persons task force and outreach efforts are underway.

OC Transpo buses have been set up to provide water, food and support at three buildings without power predominantly occupied by seniors.

Wellness checks are being performed by the Ottawa Search and Rescue volunteer group, and Ottawa Public Health has been checking in on long-term care homes and retirement homes.

Looking to help?

The Ottawa Food Bank is asking for cash donations after losing perishable food at 11 branches that lost power, which generally is enough to feed about 7,600 people.

The good news is the power outage came at the end of the week, when inventory is low, said Ottawa Food Bank CEO Michael Maidment.

"Right now we're really asking for cash," he said. "The money really allows us to buy exactly what we need. It will also allow us to buy perishable food when the power comes back on, and we have good buying power at the Ottawa Food Bank."

Non-perishable food donations and personal hygiene products for Gatineau's victims can be dropped off at the former Sears store in Galeries de Hull at 320 boulevard Saint-Joseph between 10 p.m and 6 p.m.

"We have more than enough donated toys and clothing. Items needed include baby products (wipes, diapers, powdered milk, etc.) and non-perishable foods," the city said on its storm information page.

The City of Gatineau also asks that cash donations be made to the Red Cross.

School closure details

All Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and Ottawa Catholic School Board schools closed Monday.

Ottawa's French-language Catholic school board announced that six schools were closed: Terre-des-Jeunes, Edouard-Bond, Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau, Pierre-Savard, Sainte-Kateri and Laurier-Carrière.

All French-language public schools are open Monday, except for Omer-Deslauriers and Charlotte-Lemieux.

The University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Algonquin College also opened as usual.

In Gatineau, Hadley Junior and Philemon Wright High School closed due to tornado damage. L'École Secondaire Mont-Bleu, where a fire broke out Friday after the storm, is closed Monday to Friday this week.