FRIDAY JULY 2nd 2004
A severe thunderstorm
slammed into the city Friday afternoon, flooding underpasses, knocking out power with lightning strikes and stretching emergency resources to the limit. Just after 5:30 p.m., heavy showers hit the southern portion of Edmonton and lightning strikes killed power at intersections, struck apartment buildings and hit a pole near Telus Field, causing damage that exposed live wires.
Several intersections flooded, including the underpass near Argyll Road and 99 Street, where father and son Gord Hardy, 52, and Ian Hardy, 16, were stranded after their car took in water.
Gord said he thought they could make it through the water in their 1981 Toyota Celica. "I said, 'The old car's good in water. It never gave me any trouble before.' But I didn't realize it was that deep."
The water was nearly a metre deep, and the submerged trunk was full of groceries, Ian said.
Gord said he was confident he'd get it started again - after the Celica dried out. Two other trucks and a van were also trapped in the underpass.
Cops were also flooded with calls as manhole covers blew into the air to relieve water pressure, said Sgt. Guy Kinney.
Epcor spokesman Jay Shuken said there were about a dozen lightning strikes. Three circuits were hit by lightning, knocking out power to some 3,000 residents in the city's south and east, as well as about 450 customers downtown.
Environment Canada meteorologist Derrick Kania said preliminary data shows about 40mm of rain fell during the brunt of the storm between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The slow-moving thunderstorm also featured heavy lightning and winds gusting up to 40 kmh.
Capt. Grant Ward of the Emergency Response Department (ERD) said they received a report of lightning striking a power pole at Telus Field around 6:30 p.m.
Some south-side businesses, such as a Holiday Inn and Finesse Home Living, also reported flooding, said ERD.
"We had minor flooding in our (basement) laundry room," said Catherine Richards, general manager of the Holiday Inn The Palace, 4235 Gateway Blvd. No guests were affected.
-justin-