Cottages destroyed by Fiona still litter the P.E.I. countryside and shoreline

Almost eight weeks after post-tropical storm Fiona ripped through the Hebrides cottage community on New London Bay near Stanley Bridge, P.E.I., buildings and debris still litter the countryside and shoreline.

Cottage owners who are still waiting to hear from their insurance companies, or have had their claims rejected, are left wondering who will foot the bill to retrieve what remains. 

Rick and Eileen Callaghan bought their cottage in the Hebrides in 1995. They first learned what had happened when a friend sent them a photo of their cottage.

It had been swept several kilometres away.

"At that time we were in Charlottetown, our phones were out, our friends from here were trying to get in touch with us, but they couldn't get through," said Eileen Callaghan.

"Finally we did get them on the phone from a neighbour's house, and they told us what happened."

"I couldn't believe it. We were still in shock knowing that the cottage had moved," said Rick Callaghan.

"Then when we came down here and saw we weren't the only ones. There were five cottages gone. Five in a row. The hurricane came right up the inlet and took five cottages."

They said they would like to see some form of compensation program, to help cottage owners like themselves. 

"This is our secondary residence, but we gave up other things to have this, I kept working, delayed retirement, so we could pay for the addition onto the cottage, and raising the cottage," said Eileen Callaghan.

"I really don't distinguish between the secondary and the primary residence, because I know we're lucky that we had it, but we worked hard to have it, and gave up other things."

Rick Callaghan said he worked for the provincial government for most of his life, and having seen the inner workings, hopes to see some kind of program to help people like him and his family.

"So I'd be very happy if they come up with a program for seasonal residents who lost their cottages. But I don't have high expectations of it."

Jim Randall is the president of the Hebrides Homeowners' Association, and has been raising the issue of help for cottage owners, including a presentation to a legislative committee last month.