PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG - Residents of Pangnirtung continue to clean-up after a severe windstorm swept through the hamlet on Nov. 27.

This pick-up truck in Pangnirtung was flipped over completely by winds measuring between 120 and 140 kilometres per hour. - photo courtesy of David Kilabuk

Mayor Sakiasie Sowdlooapik, who has lived in the community for more than 40 years, said this was the first time he had seen the winds act so wild.

"This was the first time I could not sleep in the house," he said, adding, "Me and my family were up by 3:30, 4 a.m.; the house was shaking pretty wildly."

Roads were covered in ice even though the temperature hovered around 0 C.

Winds clocked in between 120 and 130 kilometres per hour. No one was injured but there was severe structural damage to many homes.

Two five-plex housing units in the GN Village were severely damaged with one unit losing its roof completely.

Owned by the Nunavut Housing Corporation, they were home to Government of Nunavut staff.

"We've moved everyone out who were in them," said Bob Young, housing manager of the Pangnirtung Housing Association on Nov. 30.

Bob Young said the priority was to close the houses in and secure them so if the wind picks up again they will remain intact.

Angela Young, who lived in the house next door to the one that lost its roof, said she and her husband were waiting for their roof to blow off at anytime.

"We were home at the time; the gusts were so loud, you could hear and see the gusts coming," she said.

She said the roof is technically still there but it is severely damaged and "one or two more gusts will probably finish the job," said Angela Young.

She said she doesn't think they will return to their house or anyone will as the doors no longer close properly, the foundation has shifted and the stairs outside are completely crooked.

"It was like what a tornado would be like," she said.

Out of 317 homes, eight windows were broken.

"We came off lucky there," said Bob Young.

On Dec. 2, a representative from the NHC was scheduled to come and do an assessment of the damages sustained.

"Looking at the roofs, boat damages, wires that were down, materials blown away, windows broken, I would estimate it at very close to $1 million," said Sowdlooapik, who added he was only guessing at the cost.

Sowdlooapik said the worst part was when the anchored boats began to capsize.

At the harbour, the winds and strong storm surge blew over at least six boats in the water, said Lena Angnako, manager of the Pangnirtung Hunters and Trappers Organization.

A boat that was being stored on the land was severely damaged and is not longer usable.

Her father's boat became loose.

"My brothers were trying to get down there to go and take care of the boat; they saved it but when they were trying to get down, one of the guys turned back as he nearly got blown away," she said.

Angnako said she had never seen the white caps and spray come so close to the houses.

Power was cut off to customers on Nov. 27 but was restored to most by midday the same day. Phone and Internet service were interrupted.

Some, such as resident Chris Heide were without power for about 30 hours.

"We moved in with a neighbour who had power overnight," he said.

Heide added it was fortunate it was not particularly cold as colder temperatures could have meant frozen pipes.

Pangnirtung Fisheries Ltd. also didn't have power for two days.

"We had no loss of product as our freezers held up," said Don Cunningham, general manager. However, some grey insulated fish tubs were blown around outside.

The wind caused vehicles and oil tanks to flip over also.

Sowdlooapik said the fuel tank at the Northern Store warehouse blew over with almost 400 litres of fuel in it. The spilled fuel was contained in other drums.

School was cancelled on Nov. 29 and various members of the community helped clean up. A heavy snowfall the night of Nov. 29 is making the clean-up a bit more difficult, said Sowdlooapik.

As of Nov. 30 the clean-up efforts were continuing.

"The spirit of the community is very good even though we were caught off guard and everyone helped each other," he said.

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