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Parts of Canada's national capital were still in shock on Saturday after a powerful tornado destroyed destructive roads in residential neighborhoods – slamming huge trees, throwing cars and destroying houses along the way. .
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Inside a tornado, a Gatineau man filmed a video on the third floor of his building.
The tornado caused heavy damage late Friday, as it passed through pockets at the western and southern ends of Ottawa, as well as densely populated sections of the neighboring city of Gatineau, Quebec.
The bite of the storm continued to be felt over much of the region several hours later, with more than 150,000 customers still without electricity on Saturday afternoon. Hydro Ottawa CEO Bryce Conrad compared the extent of the damage to the power grid with the ice storm of 1998.
The human toll was also significant. Authorities said dozens of people were injured, but no deaths or disappearances were reported.
WATCH: People are homeless after the tornado struck the Ottawa region and Quebec
The Ottawa Hospital tweeted that two people were in critical condition, one was in serious condition and two others were stable. Officials set up reception centers for those who could not return home and said that crisis counseling services would be available.
On the north side of the Ottawa River, Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin said that more than 700 of his citizens had been hit by the storm and that about 100 people had taken refuge in a college on Friday. evening. More than 215 buildings were damaged or destroyed in his city – affecting a total of 1,686 housing units, he added.
In the areas devastated by the tornado, scenes of devastation were everywhere. The winds ripped through the roofs of many tall buildings, bounced off large sections of metal bleachers on football pitches, knocked down utility poles and pierced trees thick as twigs.
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"It seemed like it was a movie or a war scene," said Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, remembering what he saw in the Dunrobin area, where about 60 buildings were destroyed .
"Literally, it seems like bombs have been dropped from the air."
Much of Dunrobin, a semi-rural community located about 35 kilometers west of downtown Ottawa, remained encircled by police Saturday afternoon.
WATCH: "Charlie", the beagle from the rubble after the tornado in the Ottawa neighborhood
He was strangely calm inside the police perimeter of one of Dunrobin's most damaged neighborhoods – and only a few trees were still standing. Personal items were scattered everywhere: a baby blanket, a lifejacket, mattresses, lawnmowers, a refrigerator, a sink placed on the grass and even a loveseat surrounding a telephone pole.
A car, broken windows, was on the side in front of a house. A pink and mellow insulation – sucked by ravaged houses – covered the neighborhood.
Looking at a house, the blue sky could be seen through an open door. His roof was gone.
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Some houses had nothing left and remained flat on the ground, covering their vehicles.
Officials warned people not to go home until they were found safe, with firefighters going door-to-door to determine if structures were still healthy. In Dunrobin, the authorities said that many of the buildings that emerged from the partially intact tornado should probably be demolished.
Conrad has warned people in the Ottawa area to prepare for a power failure of several days as a result of what he described as a "cascading failure" of hydropower resources.
WATCH: Drivers watch apparent tornado and explosion in Gatineau
"Last night's storm was devastating for our electrical infrastructure, probably as bad or worse than the 1998 ice storm," Conrad told reporters.
He stated that there were 200 separate outages in the Hydro Ottawa network and 147,000 customers without electricity. Hydro Ottawa serves only some of those left without electricity because of the tornado.
To put things in perspective, Mr. Conrad said that the electrical charge that comes to Ottawa every day of the year is about 1,000 megawatts. The storm took away about 400 megawatts.
"That's why we're working – that's why we're in the dark," he said, listing communities in the west, south, and some central parts of Ottawa.
Environment Canada confirmed Saturday that a real tornado had hit the Capital Region. According to meteorologist Simon Legault, there would be strong winds between 180 and 220 kilometers at the time, which would correspond to an EF2 tornado.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he will visit the Ottawa area on Sunday.
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"We're going to do everything we can to help them get back up," Ford told a crowd Saturday night for its annual Ford Fest barbecue in Vaughan, Ontario.
"Tonight, I want the people of Ottawa to know that we all think of you," said Ford, who also thanked the first responders and the power crews. "We want you to know that the whole province is with you and pray for you tonight."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that he had spoken to the mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau and that he had offered federal help for the recovery of the storm.
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"We are with you," tweeted Trudeau.
In Gatineau, the leaders of the major political parties took a break after the current election campaign in the province to travel to areas affected by the tornado.
Apart from political differences, Liberal leader Philippe Couillard and Parti Quebecois leader Jean-François Lisee visited one of the most devastated parts of Gatineau. The head of the Coalition Avenir Québec, François Legault, and Manon Masse, co-spokesperson for Quebec Solidaire, were scheduled to arrive in the region on Saturday.
"It's so surprising and terrible to see the disaster of how it hit homes," said Couillard, who visited Pontiac, Quebec.
WATCH: Drone watches the damage caused by the tornado that hit Dunrobin
Couillard added that he had been moved by hearing a story about a man from the community who had built his home with his own hands.
"And it's completely gone, almost completely gone."
The people in power intensified Saturday to help strangers with a hot meal, a point of sale to recharge their phone or a shower.
Shawna Tregunna tweeted a picture of pancakes saying she was cooking hot meals all day.
WATCH: Woman left in shock after the tornado seems to pass over the car in Quebec
"Come shower, eat, recharge your devices, I do not need to know you, you do not need to ask, to introduce yourself (bring Tupperware and I'll fill it) and you'll be the ones welcome, "tweeted Tregunna with his address.
She also offered to deliver food.
Tregunna was not alone.
WATCH: Hail the size of a golf ball hits the Ottawa district as the storm rages
Erin Blaskie, another Ottawa resident, tweeted a picture of a pot of chili saying that anyone without a hot meal could tell her her address.
In Kanata North, Karen Woods opened her home to people who needed a shower or to recharge their batteries.
On Saturday night, Ontario announced that it is activating the province's disaster recovery assistance program in the areas affected by the storm.
As part of the program, affected individuals, small businesses and non-profit organizations that have suffered property damage or loss in the aftermath of the storm may be eligible for emergency and emergency assistance. recovery.
"I want to assure Ottawa residents that our government is working closely with our municipal partners to activate the province's disaster recovery assistance program where it will be needed," said the Minister of Municipal Affairs. and Housing, Steve Clark.
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