‘Slow road’: Kronau farmer still unsure if family can return home after tornado damage

It’s been a long two weeks for Barrett Eberle, along with his three-year-old daughter Prim and dog Sully.

On June 19, a tornado ripped through their home just outside of Kronau, 28 kilometres southeast of Regina, during what Environment Canada called a “tornado outbreak.”

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No one was home when disaster struck, but Eberle said he’s still in the cleanup process.

“It’s been a lot,” he said. “I think I’m over the hump now, and a lot of things got tossed, so that was hard seeing everything go, but it’ll be a new start.”

There used to be a deck leading out from the door of Eberle’s home. Now, he believes that deck is in a nearby field. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Eberle said the community and his neighbours have stepped up to help in whatever ways they can, whether it’s providing a meal or items for his daughter.

“I had a lot of people reaching out offering stuff for my daughter Prim, which has been amazing,” he said.

“Everyone’s been coming together and helping us out with clothing, toys and even some furniture.”

He said the help means a lot.

“It’s a wonderful thing to see that’s still out in the world, and everyone takes care of each other,” Eberle said.

The damage to Eberle’s home was fairly extensive. He said the interior of his house was completely devastated.

“There aren’t many windows left in the house,” he said in a previous interview.

“The roof is gone. A (shipping container) was thrown into the side of the shop, which caused significant damage to the wall. There are cracks all over the drywall.”

The damage didn’t end there.

The sun room was almost completely ripped from the home, the roof was lifted on the whole building, including the shop, and there was glass everywhere.

“It’s very severe damage,” Eberle said.

A tornado ripped through farmer Barrett Eberle’s home near Kronau on June 19, causing severe damage. (Barrett Eberle/980 CJME)

Eberle said his family will be living in a condo in Regina until it’s determined just how bad the damage to his home is.

He’s not certain if he’ll be able to make repairs or have to completely rebuild the eight-year-old home.

“It’s going to be a change from the farm life, but we’re making do with what we got and we appreciate everyone’s help,” he said.

The farm life is really all Eberle knows, he said. He grew up on his parents’ farm not far from his own home.

Tornado damage in Kronau. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

He said insurance has been accommodating and understanding of his situation, but it’s all just a waiting game.

“It’s going to be a slow road, but we’ll get there,” he said.

“We gotta wait for the engineers to report back to see what’s going to happen with the house, if it’s getting repaired or rebuilt. When that time comes, we’ll just take it with what it is and move forward.”

Eberle's father told 980 CJME this truck had no damage prior to the tornado. Now, its windows are smashed and was rammed into a tractor. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Eberle’s father told 980 CJME this truck had no damage prior to the tornado. Now, its windows are smashed and it was rammed into a tractor. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

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