Several people were injured after a suspected tornado ripped through  Barrie this afternoon that caused “catastrophic” damage.

Barrie police spokesman Peter Leon who compares the scene to a war zone, says paramedics are providing first aid to those injured at St. Gabriel Elementary School.

“We’re presently going door-to-door with our emergency service partners checking for injuries, and we do know a number of people have sustained injuries.” He says the storm struck in the area of Mapleview Drive East and Prince William Way.

Barrie Ward 6 city Councillor Natalie Harris was home when the storm hit.

“That’s when it really hit me, when I could look up the stairs and see the sky, my son’s room is in the front of the top of the house where all the glass is busted in and the roof is gone and he’s usually up there.”

Harris says she’s been inundated with calls from people offering support. “I know the community is going to rally together and we’ll figure it out cause that’s what we do.”

Videos circulating online like this one shows what appears to be a  funnel cloud near the area that saw the most damage.

Others  shared photos and of the destruction in the aftermath showing homes with their roofs partially torn off, overturned vehicles and debris littering the streets.

Environment Canada says those images have helped them confirm the storm was indeed a tornado.

Police are urging people to stay away from area.