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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tornado families being rehoused | Tornado families being rehoused |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scores of families face a bleak run-up to Christmas after a tornado wrecked their north-west London homes, forcing them to be rehoused. | Scores of families face a bleak run-up to Christmas after a tornado wrecked their north-west London homes, forcing them to be rehoused. |
| More than 100 houses in the Kensal Rise area were damaged on Thursday. Experts said 34 were uninhabitable and some would need to be demolished. | |
| Nine families have so far been rehoused by Brent Council but it said many had chosen to stay with friends and family. | Nine families have so far been rehoused by Brent Council but it said many had chosen to stay with friends and family. |
| About 100 people were allowed to pick up vital belongings. | About 100 people were allowed to pick up vital belongings. |
| Meanwhile, Brent East MP Sarah Teather has called for government help to set up a relief fund for residents. | Meanwhile, Brent East MP Sarah Teather has called for government help to set up a relief fund for residents. |
| Insurance concerns | Insurance concerns |
| Insurance assessors are continuing to assess the damage which is expected to cost millions of pounds to repair. | Insurance assessors are continuing to assess the damage which is expected to cost millions of pounds to repair. |
| "A number of people have said they're anxious about whether they had the proper insurance and whether it's up to date," Ms Teather said. | "A number of people have said they're anxious about whether they had the proper insurance and whether it's up to date," Ms Teather said. |
| "How many of us make sure it's up to date? It's quite common - you don't expect a tornado in Kensal Rise. | "How many of us make sure it's up to date? It's quite common - you don't expect a tornado in Kensal Rise. |
| "My concern is for these people at the moment and I'm looking to see if there's any possibility of setting up a relief fund." | "My concern is for these people at the moment and I'm looking to see if there's any possibility of setting up a relief fund." |
| The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said people should make claims as quickly as possible. | The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said people should make claims as quickly as possible. |
| The Liberal Democrat added she had written to the government to ask them to contribute to the fund. | The Liberal Democrat added she had written to the government to ask them to contribute to the fund. |
| Brent Council said it was working to get people back in their homes as soon as possible but safety was a priority. | Brent Council said it was working to get people back in their homes as soon as possible but safety was a priority. |
| It has moved its support centre to Kensal Rise Methodist Church Hall in Chamberlayne Road. | It has moved its support centre to Kensal Rise Methodist Church Hall in Chamberlayne Road. |
| "A lot of residents decided they would rather go and stay with family and friends," a spokeswoman said. | "A lot of residents decided they would rather go and stay with family and friends," a spokeswoman said. |
| Irfan Malik, of Brent Council, said: "We really do appreciate that this has been a terrible thing to happen to people just before Christmas and that people will be pretty upset. | Irfan Malik, of Brent Council, said: "We really do appreciate that this has been a terrible thing to happen to people just before Christmas and that people will be pretty upset. |
| "People feel frustrated about how we're helping to get them back into their own homes but in a little over 24 hours, we've got quite a lot of people in their homes." | "People feel frustrated about how we're helping to get them back into their own homes but in a little over 24 hours, we've got quite a lot of people in their homes." |
| There are problems with roofs and chimneys teetering Irfan Malik, Brent Council Claiming for tornado damage | There are problems with roofs and chimneys teetering Irfan Malik, Brent Council Claiming for tornado damage |
| He said between 60 to 100 people had been unable to return homes for good but said police had secured the area to make sure their valuables would be safe. | He said between 60 to 100 people had been unable to return homes for good but said police had secured the area to make sure their valuables would be safe. |
| Mr Malik said all houses needing building work would pass through a fast-track planning process because there were no listed buildings in the area. | Mr Malik said all houses needing building work would pass through a fast-track planning process because there were no listed buildings in the area. |
| He added most people affected by the tornado would have their council tax suspended for a year. | He added most people affected by the tornado would have their council tax suspended for a year. |
| The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "It is important now that the local authority works quickly to provide advice and support for residents." | The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "It is important now that the local authority works quickly to provide advice and support for residents." |
| Six roads were sealed off after the emergency services were called to the area at 1100 GMT on Thursday. | Six roads were sealed off after the emergency services were called to the area at 1100 GMT on Thursday. |
| The tornado was rated as a T4 on a scale of one to 10 with winds exceeding 100mph (160km/h). | The tornado was rated as a T4 on a scale of one to 10 with winds exceeding 100mph (160km/h). |