‘We don’t know what to do’: Alonsa’s reeve says RM can’t clean up deadly tornado mess

Clean-up efforts have begun in the RM of Alonsa after a deadly tornado Friday, but the municipality’s reeve says the community needs more help.

“There are volunteer groups coming in to help with the clean-up but that ain’t good enough,” Reeve Stan Asham told CJOB Tuesday morning.

“We need some professional help for the lake. We have no idea.”

An F4 tornado touched down in the area Friday night and headed northeast, tearing through the Silver Ridge and Margaret Bruce Beach area.

Retired teacher Jack Furrie, 77, was killed, the first tornado fatality in Manitoba since 2006. An elderly couple were also injured and sent to hospital, however they’ve since been released.

It’s believed the twister was on the ground for up to 45 minutes and created a destructive path up to 800 metres wide.

The destruction extends beyond fields and homes into Lake Manitoba, Asham said.

“There’s garbage in that lake. There’s trucks, there’s campers, there’s hydro poles, there’s large round bales. We need help there. We sure need help.”

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“There are two buildings right close to the beach, and no one knows where they are. Are they in the lake? You know, it’s bad. We don’t know what to do,” he added.

“I was hoping we could get some military help in here.”

Premier Brian Pallister said Monday that help is on the way and emergency measures are being deployed.

WATCH: Premier Brian Pallister says the province is helping the RM of Alonsa clean up.

0:56 Premier Pallister thanks Hydro, says Alonsa reeve in shock

— With files from Joe Scarpelli