FALMOUTH, N.S. — The house that Heather Strickey and her family called home for more than 10 years is now gone.
On Sept. 3, 2017, the Strickey’s home partially collapsed into a hole that enveloped a large portion of the structure. On Jan. 2, 2018, nearly four months later, an excavator tore down what was left standing.
Strickey said it was hard to watch.
“Even though we knew it had to come down and I thought I was prepared for it, to actually see the machine just ripping through the house so easily and so quickly, I thought ‘how is this possible?’” Strickey said, shortly after the home was demolished.
“This was our home for more than a decade and it seemed so strong and sturdy, that it could just be taken down so quickly was just shocking and sad to me.”
Strickey added that having the demolition take place so close to Christmas time made it that much more difficult.
“It was a really tough Christmas for us. We’re in a rental home, still paying a mortgage on this house we can’t live in and the fact that we’ve lost most of our Christmas decorations,” she said. “We lost a loved one right around Christmas, so it was a really difficult, strange time.”
Strickey said they still remain optimistic that things will turn around.
“Our lawyer is in discussions with Wawanesa (an insurance company). It’s a very complex and unique situation, trying to figure out what can happen to get us in a new home,” she said.
Strickey said that the demolition is being done in conjunction with their insurance provider.
She added that Wawanesa has also covered security costs, 24-hour surveillance of the grounds, after the initial week, which was covered by the municipality.
Read more about the Falmouth sinkhole incident here:
- Geologist says sinkhole not necessarily a fluke
- Family still reeling after sinkhole swallows home
- ‘It’s not a home invasion, it’s a sinkhole’
Strickey said the support the family has received from the surrounding community has been incredible.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so loved or cared for within these past few months,” she said. “So many people have shown such care and concern with wanting to help us, and our family has been amazing.”
Strickey said people have helped out with winter clothing and more.
“We feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in the community and our family for showing us such wonderful support,” she said.
Rick Porter, a neighbour of the Strickey family, watched the building be demolished. He said it was a shame what the family has gone through.
“It’s a disaster; it’s a total disaster for them. It’s a sin,” Porter said. “If there’s anything we can do as a community here, we’d be sure to do it, but now what?”
Porter said he was surprised that it took approximately four months for the demolition to take place.
