True Blue Grit

June 22nd, 2015 at 10:10 AM ^

here in the Ann Arbor area.  I remember the tornado a few years ago that did a bunch of damage in the Dexter area.  We saw the funnel cloud pass over our neighborhood after the tornado had lifted back into the clouds.  I remember how black the sky got.  Hope that doesn't happen again today. 

LSAClassOf2000

June 22nd, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^

Because of what I do for a living, I've already been on two conference calls trying to ascertain who is available, when can people work, who will work what shift, and all those fun questions. The next step is typically bailing out of every single commitment - work and personal - for the next few days, or at best telling everyone "maybe" to a few.

If you live in our territory, be sure to call 800-477-4747 if the lights go out, or report it our outage app. In some areas, your outage is automatically registered via the AMI meters we've been putting in, but that stage of the infrastructure is not everywhere yet. Oh, and the biggie - stay away from downed lines (20 feet at least, don't touch fences in areas where you suspect lines are down, go into water, etc...). As someone who has had to talk folks into kindly not driving their car over downed primary and that your trip to the spa can be put off while we create a situation where death is less likely, I cannot stress that one enough. 

xtramelanin

June 22nd, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^

everybody get your chainsaws ready.

our jennie is hooked to 1000 gal of propane, so assuming the tornado doesn't take out the actual house, we'll still have power.  i recommend the same for all who live in our fair state.

and would whoever neg'd LSA  please self-immolate.  

The Mad Hatter

June 22nd, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^

that generator envy was a thing.  And yet here I sit, green with envy at a generator that can probably power your whole house for weeks at a time.

/2,500 watt portable.  Just enough juice to keep the steaks cold and the computer running.

FA_Wolverine

June 22nd, 2015 at 8:22 AM ^

Be safe guys. My home got hit in Alabama in the 2011 tornado outbreak. EF-5 tornado destroying your home while you're in it will change your perspective on storms forever. They're crazy to watch but you respect the warnings more.

The Mad Hatter

June 22nd, 2015 at 8:43 AM ^

of many things, but tornados scare the shit out of me.  But since I'm not that bright, I'll be standing on my front porch watching the storm when the sirens go off, too fascinated by nature's fury to seek shelter.

Everyone Murders

June 22nd, 2015 at 10:33 AM ^

I've got no dog in this hunt, although I think at his best the Mad Hatter is one of the funnier reincarnated posters around here.  I mostly just wanted to capture the moment where one poster* wished a tornado death upon another.

What's the source of the vendetta against TMH that you're on?  Are you, in reality, the Cheshire Cat?

*Jokingly, but still.

Yo_Blue

June 22nd, 2015 at 9:03 AM ^

June 8, 1953, 8:30 p.m.: 116 dead, 844 injured

A devastating tornado moved east across Beecher, obliterating homes on Coldwater Road.

May 25, 1896, 9:00 p.m.: 47 dead, 100 injured

Deaths were in Ortonville (22), Oakwood (10), Thomas (3), North Oxford (4), and Whigville (3).

April 11, 1965, 7:00 p.m.: 44 dead, 612 injured

The death toll: Branch County (19), Hillsdale County (11), Lenawee County (14).

April 3, 1956, 6:30 p.m.: 18, dead, 340 injured

This tornado destroyed part of Hudsonville, Standale, and homes west of Grand Rapids.

May 8, 1964, 4:59 p.m.: 11 dead, 224 injured

A short, wide and intense path was cut across the Anchor Bay area, north of Mt. Clemens.

April 11, 1965, 6:50 p.m.: 5 dead, 142 injured

Thirty two homes were destroyed and 192 damaged in the Comstock Park and Alpine (five deaths) area.

May 13, 1980, 2:58 p.m.: 5 dead, 79 injured

This tornado moved east following Main Street into the center of Kalamazoo; 47 homes were destroyed.

June 5, 1905, 3:30 p.m.: 5 dead, 40 injured

Entire farms were “wiped out of existence” near Shabbona in Sanilac County.

June 8, 1953, 6:25 p.m.: 4 dead, 18 injured

Before moving out over Lake Erie the tornado destroyed homes near Telegraph, Monroe County.

June 8, 1953, 7:40 p.m.: 4 dead, 13 injured

Five vacation cabins were leveled near Big Island Lake, Iosco County.

Sam1863

June 22nd, 2015 at 9:19 AM ^

I grew up in Beecher from 1960-70, not a mile north of Coldwater Road. I've got older relatives who still shake their heads at the devastation caused by the tornado. That's especially true of those who lived in Flint's north end, not that far from Beecher. If that thing went a little further south, it could have been a dark day for my family. Since then, any time somebody says "tornado," I shut up and listen.

Everyone Murders

June 22nd, 2015 at 8:54 AM ^

Be safe out there, seriously.  And be aware that trailer parks are not more likely to be hit than other areas - it's just that the damage done to them by high winds results in tragic losses.

Trash in Spartan Stadium, however, is much more likely to be hit by tornadoes than other areas.