Tornado Touches Down In Grand Blanc, Resources Available for those Impacted

Tornado Touches Down In Grand Blanc, Resources Available for those Impacted

(Staff Reports, Feb. 28, 2024)

Grand Blanc, MI – Unusually warm weather Tuesday led into storms Tuesday night, including a tornado that touched down in Grand Blanc for about ten minutes – causing damage to properties and trees in the area, but no reported injuries or deaths.

The Nationa Weather Service provided a public information statement:

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
223 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024

...NWS Damage Survey for 02/28/24 Tornado Event...

.Overview...A tornado was confirmed in Grand Blanc.

.Grand Blanc Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-2
Estimated Peak Wind:    115 mph
Path Length /statute/:  5.7 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   450 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             February 28, 2024
Start Time:             112 AM EST
Start Location:         3 W Grand Blanc
Start Lat/Lon:          42.92 N / 83.67 W

End Date:               February 28, 2024
End Time:               122 AM EST
End Location:           1 W Atlas
End Lat/Lon:            42.94 N/ 83.56 W


Survey Summary: The tornado touched down in Creasey Bicentennial Park
damaging the south pavilion and uprooting a pine tree. The tornado
tracked east northeast across Westminster Cir where multiple trees
were snapped, two garage doors were blown out, and a roof was partially
stripped from one home. The tornado continued tracking east northeast
across Porter Rd and Reid Rd where multiple limbs and trees were snapped.
The peak of damage occurred at an industrial complex at the intersection
of Reid and S Dort Hwy. Damage to the complex included blown out non
load bearing walls and significant loss of roofing. Multiple transmission
poles were also snapped along S Dort Hwy. Damaged continued into the
Indian Hill neighborhood near downtown Grand Blanc where multiple large trees
were downed with some of them falling onto homes along Old Bridge Rd to
Stonybrook Dr. The tornado tracked east northeast across Genesee
Road to Belsay Rd snapping hardwood limbs and uprooting pine trees before
greater damage occurred along Moonstone Dr and Brookview Dr. Damage in these
areas included more widespread tree damage and one home with a garage door
blown out and a roof partially uplifted. The tornado weakened and lifted
shortly after it crossed Perry Rd.

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

Grand Blanc Fire Department shared updates and urged spectators to stay away from the area.

“Several large trees were knocked down and debris from damaged buildings were scattered and thrown in the path of the storm. The large trees knocked down by the storm damaged several houses in Indian Hill. The trees knocked down by the storm also uprooted several gas lines. Grand Blanc City Police (who observed the tornado from their patrol cars) and Grand Blanc City Fire responded and evacuated several residents to the Grand Blanc City Fire Department.

Police Officers canvassed the neighborhood to check on the affected residents. Though some homes and vehicles in the Indian Hill neighborhood sustained significant damage, no injuries have been reported as of this statement.

Grand Blanc DPW workers and the Fire Department worked hard to clear the roads of downed trees and other debris. Consumers Energy also responded and made repairs to the gas leaks and residents were then allowed to return home.

There are still numerous reports of wires down in the area. Consumers Energy employees are still working to restore gas and electricity to the residents in the affected areas.

We know people would like to see the impact of this storm, but we ask that everyone gives emergency crews the space they need to get the resources back to our residents. So please, if you do not live in the affected area stay away since power lines are down and wait until it is safe.”

State Rep. David Martin, R-Davison, today expressed appreciation for first responders and praised the resiliency of people in the Grand Blanc area.

“I’m thankful there were no injuries in the storm last night,” Martin said. “The first responders and other volunteers who stepped up to help those who were affected have been amazing. It’s impressive to see so many neighbors helping neighbors.”

Martin has been in touch with Grand Blanc officials and several community members who were affected, and passed along several resources offered by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services’ (DIFS) that people may find helpful as they work with insurance companies to file a claim and repair damages:

• DIFS Consumer Counselor: Insurance Policies and How to Claim What is Yours
• DIFS Guide to Resolving Insurance Problems/Complaint Form
• How to be “Claim Smart”
• DIFS Consumer Counselor: Homeownership vs. Repair Cost Policies
• Insurance Claims Tracking Sheet

Residents can contact the Office of Consumer Services at 877-999-6442 with any questions regarding what an insurer must do. DIFS workers can also help explain policy language.

Residents who have issues with their insurer or claims process may file a complaint with DIFS at Michigan.gov/DIFScomplaints.