Southwestern Newfoundland grapples with catastrophic aftermath of Fiona

Residents in southwestern Newfoundland are dealing with the aftermath of post-tropical storm Fiona, which destroyed more than 20 homes and has displaced hundreds of people. 

The damage in Port aux Basques was striking on Sunday morning, with boulders and debris scattered across the community. Metal guard rails on some causeways were ripped out and twisted by the waves on Saturday.

Residents were using shovels to dig through the rubble, looking for anything salvageable. Some have lost everything — including heirlooms and family photos. One woman ran away from her home sobbing, unable to bear the devastation any longer.

Derek Kettle, a Port aux Basques resident, said he doesn't know what he's going to do.

He owns two small apartment buildings near the coast on Mouse Island, an area in the town. He said the tenant in one of the buildings, which is two storeys, attempted to weather out the storm on the upper floor of the building — but soon, waves began crashing against the window, which is about 10 metres above sea level.

On Sunday morning, the bottom floor was covered in seaweed, dirt and debris.

The storm surge knocked Kettle's other apartment building, which is one storey, off its foundation and onto its side.

He said he's put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the buildings, which he rents out as Airbnbs and apartments. He said the buildings are the only source of income for him and his wife, and now his livelihood has been swept away — literally.

On Sunday morning, CBC meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler said while the winds in Port aux Basques were significant, the bulk of the damage was caused by storm surge.

"When it came in, it came in so fast," she said.

She said models predicted 16 metre waves, but the maximum wave height may have been double.

"All of that combined was catastrophic," she said.

Brauweiler said residents have been in shock, and some on Sunday still won't even be able to access their homes — or whatever is left — because some areas are still inaccessible. 

On Saturday, RCMP Cpl. Jolene Garland said police had received unconfirmed reports that a woman had been washed out to sea and was missing.