Above, an eight-inch-thick retaining wall of concrete and rebar was broken in multiple locations.
By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
PEACOCK POINT—The extremely strong winds that howled on October 31, 2019 may have added to the spookiness of Halloween, but for property owners along the Lake Erie shoreline the aftermath of the storm was truly frightening.
Diane Frid of Hamilton owns a seasonal cottage in Peacock Point. She heard from a neighbour the day after the storm and learned that, while the cottage was not affected, her lower level deck was gone. Frid was told, “There’s not much you can do; all you can do is cry.”
When Frid did arrive to assess the damage, she understood the truth of that statement. The lower deck was completely destroyed and the retaining walls were significantly compromised. The severe impact of the waves moved and even washed away 50 pound concrete blocks. Eight inch thick walls of concrete and rebar had snapped in several spots. Frid was left wondering, “What do you do after the storm?”
Adding to the stress is the fact that she doesn’t qualify for disaster relief since the cottage is not a primary residence. Frid accepts that and says, “I feel so badly for the people who are struggling with damage to their homes.”
Clean up and retrieval of the damaged deck boards took two days with the help of her son and his friend. It was just the beginning of the recovery effort, which includes a task more challenging than hauling debris across the property – finding someone to repair the retaining walls. Frid wonders if the walls are at risk of coming down and what will happen if they collapse into the lake. Erosion is a major concern, making repair or replacement of the retaining walls her priority.
Diane Frid’s deck and retaining wall before the storm on October 31, 2019.
Diane Frid’s deck and retaining wall after the October 31, 2019 storm.
She stresses, “I don’t want to see the whole thing come down and do damage to the environment. I need to find the people who can do the repairs.”
So far that search has come up empty as Frid says, “They either can’t do the job or they are swamped with other jobs.”
She thought she had found a promising contact through Google only to learn that the contractor was in the United States. She admits, “There’s a feeling of helplessness. I’m at a loss at this point and almost afraid to see if there’s more damage. You try to do the right thing and follow the rules. I have to keep doing what I can or I’ll go into panic mode. This is so overwhelming.”
The remnants of Diane Frid’s deck after the Halloween storm.
On November 25, Frid said that a tree near the lake had recently fallen and the concrete wall has shifted as well. She is concerned this has further weakened the area. Additional wind storms were expected this week after press time.
Balancing out that feeling of helplessness is her love for the property, which she has owned for four years. She notes that people come to the adjacent parkette and will sit all day: “It’s a beautiful spot; the sunsets are extraordinary.”
While Frid is learning that what you do after the storm is a daunting task, she remains determined in her effort to “find someone who can help to fix this and do it right.” If you know of someone who can help with the repairs, contact Frid at dfrid@yahoo.com.
Haldimand County is inviting residents to attend an information session regarding Lake Erie flooding hazards and preparedness measures on Monday, December 2, 2019 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Dunnville Community Lifespan Centre.
