Homes and cottages along the north coast of Nova Scotia swept away by Fiona

Cathy Scott and her husband Ian Scott of Truro, Nova Scotia have owned a cottage in the small seaside community of Marshville for 29 years. This is where their children and grandchildren spent many happy summers.

On Sunday, the couple discovered that their cottage had been uprooted and swept across the road by post-tropical storm Fiona as it moved over northeast Nova Scotia.

Everything inside the house was wet and the couple don’t think their insurance policy will cover storm surge damage.

« We don’t know what we’re going to do now, » Cathy said.

The Scotts aren’t the only ones facing significant property damage on the north coast of Nova Scotia, which faces Prince Edward Island across the Northumberland Strait.

When Lois Parker woke up Saturday morning at her cottage in Marshville, she saw a lawn mower, debris and a floating dock dropped outside her house by Fiona.

Parker has owned his cabin for almost 50 years and has lived there permanently for seven years.

« Some people have seen entire cottages washed away, washed away, » she said.

Parker said she doesn’t expect power to return for two to three weeks. She said people had already filled their bathtubs and washing machines with water in anticipation of the storm. Now they also have to buy water, as many residents rely on electric pumps to bring water from wells to their homes.

Gabriel Comeau said he had lived in his cabin for 15 years and had never seen such a storm surge.

He said it was dark Friday night and he was unable to sleep from all the noise outside. In the morning, he saw that the storm had pushed two of his neighbours’ cabins in front of his.

« It was the scariest night I’ve ever had, » Comeau said.

« Mother Nature is a powerful force. We shouldn’t play with her. »