Ontario Premier McGuinty to offer assistance to tornado-stricken Goderich

GODERICH, Ont. – Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says the province will help the town of Goderich recover from a devastating tornado.

McGuinty says the province has activated its emergency plan for helping communities struck by disasters.

The premier says the first priorities are to make sure people are safe, and to restore power and get people back into their homes.

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The longer term goal will be to rebuild the town dubbed “Canada’s prettiest town,” declaring that “it will be a pretty town once again.”

The premier says he was unable to contact the mayor Sunday after the storm ripped through the community on Lake Huron killing a salt mine worker, but will talk to him later today.

Police have blocked off the downtown and gas service has been disconnected after the tornado ripped up trees and damaged buildings.