Strong winds and heavy rain tore through Lincoln Park early Wednesday, leaving businesses shuttered, trees uprooted and residents spending the day cleaning up the aftermath.
A brick building at a strip mall on Dix Highway and Outer Drive suffered significant damage, with brick crumbling off the side; windows smashed and debris scattered across the parking lot. Lincoln Park Fire Chief Michael Prinz confirmed the situation had escalated beyond simple storm cleanup.
“The building has been condemned by the building department at this time,” Prinz said.
Among the businesses affected is a Subway restaurant.
Daniel Billingslea, who lives near the strip mall, surveyed the damage — and said the destruction hit close to home.
“Over there we have the subway, and over here we have the Subway sign,” Billingslea said. “Thankful to God that this wasn’t my front porch.”
Damage spreads into residential areas, Allen Park
The destruction wasn’t limited to the commercial strip. Residential neighborhoods in Lincoln Park and nearby Allen Park were hit just as hard. Whole trees were ripped from yards; utility wires were knocked down across streets, and trampolines and yard debris were tossed far from where they originated.
Mary Roberts was among those who bore the brunt of the storm. A fallen tree landed across her front lawn and pinned her car.
“It’s been a nightmare…It’s been a nightmare,” Roberts said.
Despite the loss, Roberts said she is counting her blessings.
“I’m just grateful that it didn’t fall on my house because it probably could’ve killed me, being as big as that tree is,” she said. “Cars and whatever, it’s material things, you can replace those, but a body you can’t, so.”
Billingslea echoed the sentiment as he pointed to a nearby tree that had been split apart by the force of the storm.
“As you see, the storm karate chopped this tree into three pieces, clean off,” he said. “It hits way too close to home.”
Recovery could take weeks
Getting things back to normal won’t happen overnight. Fire Chief Prinz said the recovery process could take weeks.
Residents with storm damage in the area are encouraged to fill out a storm damage Google Form on the City of Lincoln Park’s Facebook page.
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