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DAMAGE

Loans available for Michigan businesses, others damaged by fall rain

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations damaged by excessive rain Sept. 30 can apply for federal loans. The low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available in Alger, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Emmet, Luce, Mackinac and Schoolcraft counties, the U.S. Small Business Administration said. Loan amounts can be up to $2 million with 3% interest rates for small businesses and 2.75% for private nonprofit organizations of all sizes. AdUnder this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Except for aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers, the agency said.

Intense wind brings down trees, causes mass power outages across Metro Detroit

METRO DETROIT – Strong winds Sunday brought down trees and caused mass power outages across Metro Detroit. MORE: Metro Detroit weather: Wind Advisory now in effectAs of 6:40 p.m. Sunday, more than 195,000 DTE customers are without power. The outages are spread across Metro Detroit with a large number near West Bloomfield. Ryan Stow, with DTE, said there have been about 1,000 downed power lines across Metro Detroit. DTE crews are assessing damage, and making repairs and restoring power, in areas where it is safe to do so.

Car damage from tree limb sparks insurance battle with city of Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK, Mich. An issue in Royal Oak involving a falling tree limb that caused serious damage to a parked car is drawing attention. The tree was in distress before the storm brought it down. Now the vehicles owner wants to know why the city isnt helping cover the cost. A fast moving storm packing wild winds brought down part of the tree on Wrights vehicle. Wright was hoping the city would cover some costs, but he was wrong.

Not So Calm After The Storm, June 11, 2020, noon update

Not So Calm After The Storm, June 11, 2020, noon updatePublished: June 11, 2020, 12:18 pmYesterday's storms knocked out power to nearly 400,000 customers, but those storms are thankfully well off to our east, with a cooler, drier air mass moving in. The day ahead will feature partial cloud cover early this morning, followed by mostly sunny skies for the balance of the day. It'll be a windy day, though, with west winds at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts over 30 mph possible. These winds have prompted a Lakeshore Flood Warning for the Harsens Island / Algonac area. Highs today will reach the mid to upper 70s, but even cooler air is headed this way for the weekend.

Severe storms wreak havoc across Southeast Michigan, leaving thousands without power

DETROIT – Thousands of people are without power in Southeast Michigan after severe storms moved through the area on Wednesday. Storm damage in Grosse Pointe Woods on June 10, 2020. (WDIV)Grosse Pointe WoodsSome of the worst damage in the area was in Grosse Pointe Woods, where a home was lifted off of its foundation. Local 4′s Mara MacDonald was in Grosse Pointe Farms to report on the damage there. In Grosse Pointe Woods, Justin Macksound’s home actually shifted when the storm moved through.

LIVE STREAM: Gov. Whitmer holds briefing on Midland County flooding response

MIDLAND, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will offer an update on the state’s response to the devastating floods in Midland County last month. Whitmer will provide a brief update alongside local officials on the state’s response to the historic flooding in Mid-Michigan. Afterward, she will volunteer at the flood relief donation distribution center. The briefing is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. -- you can watch it live in the video player above.

Preliminary damage estimates for Grand Rapids riot set at $448,000

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Preliminary damage estimates for the Grand Rapids riot that took place last Saturday are set at $448,000, according to WOOD-TV. The preliminary damage estimates do not include other costs, such as overtime for police and fire and items stolen by looters. Seven police vehicles were broken into and over 100 businesses reported damage. Glass windows were shattered at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. In Detroit a protest against police brutality will take place outside Detroit Police Department headquarters at 4 p.m. for the ninth consecutive dayCoverage on the Grand Rapids riot:Protests in Grand Rapids become violent; fires, looting, heavy damage reported

Flooded Michigan city is midcentury architecture mecca

The lower level of the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, which houses the children's section and the city's public television studio, also flooded. McDonald recalled spending time as a child in the midcentury library and sitting on Barcelona chairs and stools, a classic midcentury furniture design, in the gallery and other spaces. This is an incredible town, said Charles Mikkelsen, for whom living in a midcentury home had been a longtime dream. This time their home, which was built on a concrete slab and overlooks a creek, was filled with about 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water. In 2017, it was flooded by less than a foot (0.3 meters) and it took 9 months to restore.

Michigan environmental group urging Midland area residents to follow its guidelines for managing debris

From addressing immediate hazards to exploring disposal options, EGLE urges residents to follow guidelines set by the state. Itemize items on property, with special attention to hazardous materials such as paint, motor oil and solvents. For a list of common types of household hazardous waste and local household hazardous waste collection contacts, visit Michigan.gov/EGLEHHWUse caution when walking through standing water or large debris piles to avoid hidden hazards, such as nails and other sharp objects. For questions about emergency disposal permits, contact the MMD Solid Waste Section at 517-284-6588. For EGLE guidance on storm debris, visit: michigan.gov/documents/egle/egle-tou-mmd-ManagingStormDebris_688194_7.pdfAdditional resources:PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Trump declares emergency for flooded Michigan communities

President Donald Trump, who was in Michigan to visit a Ford production plant, signed an emergency declaration authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts. In Midland, 61 people spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning in temporary shelters, according to city spokeswoman Selina Tisdale. That number — mostly the elderly and families — dwindled throughout Thursday as floodwaters receded and some residents were able to return home, she said. Much of the area remained underwater, including in Midland, the headquarters of Dow Chemical Co. And floodwaters continued to threaten downstream communities. “And my hat’s off to Midland.”Other area residents returned to their homes to find heavy damage.

Michigan crops damaged as temperatures plunge below freezing

CHARLOTTE, Mich. Fruit growers are assessing the damage on their orchards after temperatures plunged below freezing in south-central and southwest Michigan, threatening tender blooms on apple, peach and other fruit trees. Last weekends morning freeze was the worst of its type since one that hit the area in May 2002, according to the Lansing State Journal. Cold, dry air blowing in from Canada dropped temperatures into the low- to mid-20s for nearly nine hours, according to the Lansing State Journal. We won't realize the extent of the damage until maybe next week, said Audrey Sebolt, a horticultural specialist with the Michigan Farm Bureau. Sebolt noted that though insurance won't totally replace fruit that was lost, it will provide an economic safety net.