One week after a tornado tore through Goderich, the cleanup continues and the city's largest employer remains shut down.
The Sifto Canada salt mine was heavily damaged and crews continue to work to restore power to the site. More than 450 workers are off the job.
The company says it is "unsure" when the mine might reopen, and for those who aren't getting a paycheque, the situation is further complicated by the fact that the unemployment office is still off limits.
Last Sunday an F3 tornado tore through the community, injuring at least 37 people and killing 61-year-old Norman Laberge, who was working at the salt mine when the storm hit.
While many of the fallen trees downtown and elsewhere have been cleared, some homes and buildings remain as they did one week ago.
Members of the congregation of the Victoria Street United Church say that building will likely be demolished within the next couple of days.
Eleanor Holden and her husband have been members at the church for more than 40 years, and spent three years restoring the centuries-old windows by hand.
If they'd been inside, she says "It would have killed [my husband] and all of the choir members, so we're just grateful for that."
But some aspects of life are returning to normal, with a makeshift depot opened to process mail while the post office remains off limits. There was a line out the door on Monday.
Resident Judy Loft was waiting to pick up her mail and says "We just had two branches in our yard, but I've just come from the downtown, our banks is just open today, and it's just so sad."
Structural engineers are on site at some businesses to assess the damage and whether the buildings are safe to enter, while some abandoned homes bear spray-painted messages of gratitude and hope.
Meanwhile insurance companies in the area say it will take time to process the hundreds of claims that are being filed.
For Goderich residents: As of August 29, 2011, Service Canada will be on-site at the Goderich Memorial Arena located at 180 McDonald St. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday to provide services.
