A preliminary report by meteorologists at Environment and Climate Change Canada says the tornado that tore through a rural area and campground about 200 kilometeres northwest of Winnipeg is being classified as a ‘high-EF-3’ tornado.

Amanda Prysizney is a decision support meteorologist and helped document the damage in the area east of Alonsa Saturday. 

Prysizney said the rating is based on the house being completely removed from foundation where 77-year old retired teacher Jack Furrie died as well as tractors, trucks and other heavy items, like a full sized deep freezer being displaced.

She said more work still needs to be done to finalize the intensity of the twister.

“We want to look more closely at how the house was built," she said explaining the team couldn’t use their drone due to a lack of internet service.

“Take away from this tornado is the lack cell service and almost everyone we interviewed said they did not get the alert,” said Prysizney.

She said since recent upgrades in nearby Amaranth service had not been as reliable. 

A spokesperson for Bell MTS said in a statement Sunday the company recently upgraded the wireless sites in some parts of the region with the latest LTE wireless technology (known as LTE Advanced).

“While service has been greatly enhanced overall, some pockets where coverage was already limited may have seen reduced coverage. We continue to look at possible solutions to enhance service in these areas,” said Michelle Gazze in an email to CTV News.

“It’s important to note that Wireless Public Alerts on any carrier's compatible LTE phones can only be received if they are connected to an LTE network. Some communities in this part of the province, including the areas around Alonsa, are primarily served by HSPA networks, the wireless technology that preceded LTE.”

“LTE phones will work normally in these areas, but at lower HSPA speeds and some newer features enabled by LTE technology would not be available, including public alerts.”

Meantime Rogers said it was working with Bell MTS to improve service in the area and safety of customers is "of the utmost importance."

Telus also said it is working with Bell MTS as it does not own or maintain cell towers in the area. It said addressing the challenges is a priority, and reiterated that consistent access to LTE technology is required to receive alerts.

Gazze said more information about Wireless Public Alerts is available at AlertReady.ca.

Prysizney said EF-3 tornadoes have speeds between 218 and 266 km/hr and this one was on the ground for about 45 minutes. 

“This a strong tornado,” she said.

GETTING TO SAFETY WITH AND WITHOUT AN ALERT

After spotting a funnel cloud Tanis Zdan jumped in a vehicle with her husband and son and took shelter in the basement of a nearby house with about 30 other people.

Little did she know her daughter had been trying to warn her with texts and phone calls about the tornado already on the ground.

Zdan says she also never received the wireless public alert.

"It makes you mad, frustrated. You know last year i could have cell service, phone calls," she said.

Vaughn Cabak can't believe his luck. His family farm suffered severe damage as tractors were toppled and dozens of hay bales seem to have disappeared.

He purchased a cell booster for under $200 just days ago and said he got the alert about the tornado.

"When we saw the debris start flying we said everyone get in there's a little room back there," Cabak said getting emotional.

Cabak hunkered down in a basement with 14 other people, while the tornado tore the roof and walls right off.

He said he didn't purchase the booster for safety reasons, but is so relieved he did.

CRTC GATHERING FACTS AFTER TORNADO

Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Service oversees wireless communication along with the Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada.

CRTC Spokesperson Eric Rancourt said Monday it’s a gathering more facts to understand what happened.

“Obviously all the wireless companies have plans to improve service, but a few years ago the CRTC reviewed what constitutes a basic telecommunications service,” he said in a phone call with CTV News Monday.

It issued a policy which contains a number of targets which says, “the latest generally deployed wireless technology which is currently LTE should be available to all Canadians and not only at their homes and businesses but also along major Canadian roads,” Rancourt said.

“Other targets include broadband speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 10 Mbps for upload, as well as an unlimited data option, for fixed broadband Internet services. We are currently in the process of establishing a fund that will provide $750 million over five years to help reach these targets.”