Goodrich-The vicious storm that ripped through Atlas Township on Sept. 5 producing winds of nearly 70 mph took down trees and some local history.
‘The straight-line wind that came out of a thunderstorm was produced by the 90 degree temperatures and high humidity on Friday,? said Dan Thompson, meteorologist from the National Weather Service in White Lake Township. ‘If these winds meet or exceed 58 miles per hour then the storm is classified as severe by the National Weather Service. In the Goodrich area along with farther south in Washtenaw County winds were measured at about 75 miles per hour. The instability of the atmosphere created downdrafts. Straight-line wind intensity can be as powerful as a tornado.?
The path of the straight-line wind cut a path through the Goodrich Cemetery just north of the downtown area near Reid Elementary School.
Pete Morey, village DPW director and village council member who helps maintain the historic cemetery which dates back to the 1850s, said 13 trees were toppled in the storm. Some trees were sheared in half.
‘Many stone markers were damaged, including those belonging to the Goodrich and Sanford families,? said Morey, who was out following the storm surveying the damage. ‘If you have someone buried at the Goodrich Cemetery stop by and if there is damage or if the marker is covered by a tree contact your homeowners insurance and the damage should be covered. The cemetery insurance policy only covers up to $10,000 for trees and another $10,000 for stones damaged. We also had a small shed damaged by a tree at the cemetery that will have to be replaced.?
‘We need people to work with us on this,? he added. ‘It’s really a shame, some of the trees hit date back to the early days of Goodrich.?
Atlas Township Fire Chief, Fred Forys reported 15 downed wires in the township and no injuries from the storm. ‘We were out from Friday night from about 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday morning on live wires,? he said. ‘I sure there were more out there, but that’s the ones we covered. I would estimate the Village of Goodrich was hit the hardest in the storm.?
The Goodrich football game versus Kearsley scheduled for Sept. 5 was postponed due to the storm until Sept. 6. The Martians won the game 31-14.
Forys said the Genesee County Road Commission, along with the Goodrich DPW, did an outstanding job of keeping the roads open after many trees had fallen.