Storm leaves Kinistino Ag World picking up the pieces ahead of harvest

A Kinistino farm equipment business is back open after powerful winds last weekend pushed in doors, tore tin from the roof and damaged a training room.

Ag World Equipment co-owner Jeffrey Freedman said he woke up Sunday morning to a flood of messages after the storm rolled through overnight.

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“My phones were going crazy when we got up that morning, and lots of action happened overnight,” Freedman said. “Some of our employees spent the night protecting what they could.”

Freedman said the wind pushed in all of the business’s doors, took off a section of the training room, ripped off tin and left damage throughout the building. He said he does not think there was a door on the property that escaped damage.

“There’s screws loose everywhere and tin off in a lot of places, so hopefully the rain stays away,” he said.

Freedman said every door in the Ag World building was blown in during the storm. (Ag World/Facebook)

While the building itself took a significant hit, Freedman said damage to equipment was relatively minor. One half-ton truck was “squished,” some panels were damaged and tools were scattered around the shop.

He said the timing of the storm was fortunate because no one was inside when the worst of it happened.

“That was a great thing because it had been very dangerous with those big doors all coming down,” Freedman said.

Crews were on site quickly after the storm. Freedman said builders showed up Sunday morning and shored up what they could. The business reopened Wednesday and is operating as usual while repairs continue.

“Mosquitoes are a little worse in the shop being there’s no doors, but we’re just going forwards and trying to stay positive and get ready for harvest,” he said. “We’re basically business as usual here.”

The damage at Ag World comes after a weekend of severe storms left a trail of damage across northeastern Saskatchewan, including in Aylsham, Codette, Arborfield, Carrot River and Kinistino. Trees were snapped or uprooted, some falling onto homes, vehicles and power lines. Grain bins were overturned, roofs were damaged or torn from buildings and vehicles and machinery also sustained damage.

Power outages lasted from several hours to, in some cases, nearly two days as crews worked to restore service throughout the region.

The cleanup also comes as the Saskatchewan government has announced changes to the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program.

The province said the changes are aimed at better helping individuals and businesses affected by recent flooding and other disasters. The changes were announced during a busy season of storms, floods and wildfires in Saskatchewan.

— with files from CJME News

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