Ahead of anticipated rain, dozens of volunteer hydro workers installed tarps on the roofs of homes that were severely damaged after a tornado ripped through a southern Ontario community last week.

Eight bucket trucks rolled into Angus, Ont., on Sunday as a team of off-duty Hydro One workers draped tarps on the roofs of about three dozen battered residences.

"We'll keep going until the work is done," Hydro One spokesperson Marylena Stea told The Canadian Press.

Many homes were hit hard last Tuesday, after a twister touched down in Angus, a small community located about 100 kilometres north of Toronto. A preliminary estimate by Environment Canada suggests the twister tore through the Essa Township community with violent wind speeds that approached 180 km/h. Three people suffered minor injuries and 101 homes were affected by the storm.

OPP Const. Kelly Daniels said 14 homes were so badly damaged, they are now slated for demolition.

"It's like a super large construction zone, really. That's what we’re looking at – one large work zone," Daniels told The Canadian Press.

The state of emergency that was declared on the township in the aftermath of the storm could be lifted within days, she added.

"People are starting to move on with their lives. A lot of them are getting back into their homes," Daniels said.

"All the residents – of course it’s very emotional time for them – but with the outpouring from the community of people donating items, food, non-perishables and then of course, hearing about people volunteering their days on a weekend, it’s hard for them to be upset when all that’s coming together for them."

With files from The Canadian Press