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Tornado homes to be demolished Tornado families being rehoused
(about 2 hours later)
Some homes hit by the tornado which hit north-west London will have to be demolished and others remain too dangerous to enter. 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 homes were damaged and about 20 were left uninhabitable when the storm hit Kensal Rise on Thursday. More than 100 houses in the Kensal Rise area in were damaged on Thursday. Experts said 34 were uninhabitable and some would need to be demolished.
Nine families have been rehoused by the local council because their homes have been too badly damaged to return to. 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.
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 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.
'Lot of debris'
"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 claimsas 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.
"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.
"Overnight the fire brigade was working to ensure that the area was safe. There is still a lot of debris on the ground."
The council's borough surveyor Andy Hardy said: "There are a number of houses with severe structural damage and some may have to be shored up or demolished.
"At the moment we are expecting further severe weather so we are not going to send any contractors in to shore up until we are sure the weather is not going to create further mayhem."
Residents were given details about the most badly damaged properties at a meeting on Friday morning.
They were told that Crediton Road and Chamberlayne Road should open later on Friday but Whitmore Gardens will take "a lot longer".
There are problems with roofs and chimneys teetering Irfan Malik, Brent Council Claiming for tornado damageThere are problems with roofs and chimneys teetering Irfan Malik, Brent Council Claiming for tornado damage
Irfan Malik, of Brent Council, said: "There are 20 properties in total that we believe are uninhabitable and some of them are in fact quite dangerous. 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.
"There are problems with roofs and chimneys teetering." "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."
He also advised those who were told they could return home to wear hard hats when walking around their properties. 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.
"The walls have collapsed, there are tiles on top of the roofs which may be sort of stuck in the gutters and may come loose if you try to go round and start cleaning up," he said. 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.
The roof of one house was ripped off, debris was sent flying and trees in the streets were uprooted. He added most people affected by the tornado would have their council tax suspended for a year.
The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "The immediate response of local residents to the tornado has shown how strong the community is in Kensal Rise. The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "It is important now that the local authority works quickly to provide advice and support for residents."
"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).