A powerful windstorm that left thousands of residents without power Friday also caused significant property damage in White Rock and South Surrey.
In Ocean Park, winds – which were reported to have reached upward of 70 km/h in some areas – felled a large tree, which crashed down into the side of a home on 14A Avenue.
The tree also badly damaged a vehicle, which was parked in the driveway.
On Friday evening, crews were still working to clear the debris and secure the home, the front of which had been sheared off by the fallen tree.
One neighbour told Peace Arch News that they were thankful no one was hurt in the incident – “It could have been a lot worse,” she said.
The South Surrey neighbourhood features many large evergreen trees, and branches from many of them were piled off along the side of the road and in yards and driveways.
In White Rock, powerful waves whipped up by the storm wreaked havoc on East Beach, where parts of the grassy waterfront actually sloughed into the water.
City manager Dan Bottrill said part of the problem is the area’s lower elevation, along with an insufficient amount of riprap.
Preventing further damage of the sort will need to be part of upcoming conversations among members of the task force charged with identifying improvements for East Beach, he said.
Crews were out cleaning debris from the promenade before sunrise. Damage could also be seen to sails of boats moored at the end of the pier.
While many residents who were without power saw it restored by Friday morning or early afternoon, some in South Surrey told Peace Arch News they were without power until late Friday night.
According to BC Hydro, the storm knocked out power to 75,000 customers across the Lower Mainland, with Surrey, Delta and Langley being among the areas hardest hit.
– with files from Tracy Holmes